Courthouse dog brings comfort to Uvalde
Therapy animal has special ability to console children and adults who have faced trauma
Pam Traylor has seen how Sumi’s silky soft coat, pretty face and gentle personality naturally draw people to the therapy animal.
Based on the 6-year-old golden retriever-Labrador retriever mix’s work comforting both children and adults participating in emotional and sensitive court proceedings as the Montgomery County Courthouse facility dog, she knew the people of Uvalde could use some of Sumi’s love, too.
In June, the duo spent roughly two weeks at the Red Cross Uvalde Resiliency Center, where adults and children could seek counseling or other resources after the shooting tragedy there.
Traylor saw their impact from nearly the minute they started their work, as she let Sumi follow her intuition at the center.
“Sumi keys in on people in extreme need,” Traylor said this week. “When they walk in, they are pretty distant. The children don’t want to let go of their parents’ hands or even play with any of the toys. Then they see Sumi and they light up. They get down on the floor with her and start petting her. One little girl whose mother said she was afraid of dogs spent an hour cuddling with Sumi. Her mother was astounded.”
Sumi and her handler joined the many others who volunteered after the massacre at Robb Elementary School where 19 students and two teachers were killed May 24. Service Dogs Inc. had two of their courthouse facility dogs work with the victim’s families and three to four emergency services facility dogs offered therapy to hospital workers and first responders in Uvalde.
Traylor said working with victims of trauma has been a natural calling for Sumi.
Sumi came from Guide Dogs for the Blind and is what is called a career-change dog. Sumi was originally training to work with a blind person, but it was discovered Sumi couldn’t continue with Guide Dogs for the Blind after she developed a cataract.
Then Sumi began to work with Service Dogs Inc., a 34-year old nonprofit founded in 1988 by Austin-based attorney Sheri Soltes. The group helps Texans overcome challenges by bringing greater independence to wounded veterans and others living with disabilities. The group also helps abused children find their voice in court and through service dogs provides first responders with healthy ways to process stress, trauma and grief, according to its website. The agency invests one year and $50,000 into training each facility dog.
“Our courthouse facility dog teams have extensive experience helping survivors of trauma,” Soltes said. “The scars of tragedy can lock up our hearts so deeply that we can’t even talk about it. Our dogs connect with the wounded. Their unconditional love can reach into your heart and help you start finding the words to tell your story. And that’s where healing starts.”
Traylor, 65, said Sumi loves her job and the attention.
Traylor retired in 2019 from the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, where for 24 years as a victim coordinator she advocated for victims and introduced victims of trauma to helpful resources. Sumi is still active in her support position at the courthouse and now works on an as-needed basis when Traylor is contacted by the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.
Just last week Sumi was able to support the young victims in a sexual abuse trial at the courthouse.
“She’s a great distraction,” Traylor said. “They come in and they know why they are there. They don’t necessarily want to come in and talk about these things that they’re trying to forget and now they’re having to bring back up. She softens that and makes it easier for them. They can love on her and it brings peace to the situation.”
The courthouse program with Service Dogs Inc. began in 2012, under Traylor’s direction. It combined her love of animals with her passion for advocating for victims.
The first dog with Service Dogs\ Inc. was Ranger, who spent four years serving at the courthouse until his death from cancer in 2016.
Then came Chaco in 2016 and Sumi in 2018. Chaco is now retired, but Sumi continues her duties wearing Ranger’s badge in the courtroom.
“She has an intuition and sensitivity to people’s feelings,” Traylor said. “She’s drawn to the person in the room who is most anxious.”
Sumi has her own Facebook page at SumitheDADog. More information also is available at servicedogs.org.