Specially-trained dog ‘Zero’ to comfort victims of unspeakable crimes in South Australia’s court system in four-month trial

A specially-trained dog will help soothe and ease the anxious victims of unspeakable crimes in SA’s court system, as part of a trial.

This is Zero, a specially-trained dog who will work to help calm anxious victims of unspeakable crimes. Picture SARAH REED

As soon as his little, yellow jacket is clicked on, Zero transforms from a playful pup chasing his fluffy toy to a supersensitive chaperone sitting patiently on his special mat.

Zero is South Australia’s inaugural court canine companion and he’s been specifically trained by Guide Dogs SA/NT for a maiden trial now in its fourth month at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Adelaide.

If his training continues successfully over the next 18 months, he’ll be the first comfort dog in Australia to reach the witness box.

SA's very first DPP dog Zero is here to help. Picture: Sarah Reed.

“Put your jacket on Zero; you’re working now OK; you’re working,” says Zero’s primary handler and DPP prosecutor Darren Evans.

The three-year-old Labrador becomes almost meditative – honing in on a canine sixth sense ready to comfort some of South Australia’s most vulnerable victims of unspeakable crimes.

More than 360 child and adolescent witnesses, most victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, are involved in the criminal justice system in SA each year.

Children who could not sleep or eat days before committal proofing and pre-trial proofing meetings at the DPPs office are now able to provide witness statements with far more ease thanks to Zero.

“When children get upset they normally want to end the meeting but now when things get hard they look for Zero and they pat him and it seems as though they are transferring all that emotion to him,” says Dean Oliver, DPP Witness Assistance Service manager.

“He is a great comfort to them.”

So far Zero’s been involved in more than 30 appointments with predominantly child and teen victims of crime, but also adults and those with intellectual disabilities and hurt by domestic or sexual violence.

Attorney-General Vickie Chapman told State Parliament last week that Zero’s “innovative” role at the Office of the DPP had already resulted in positive outcomes. Ms Chapman says Zero has helped children settle more quickly and allowed staff to rapidly build rapport, resulting in shorter interviews. The US and Canada have been using dogs in witness boxes since 2003.

Originally published as Specially-trained dog ‘Zero’ to comfort victims of unspeakable crimes in South Australia’s court system in four-month trial