THE INDEPENDENT NEWS
COURTHOUSE — Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney Colin Stolle has a new staffer helping deal with the anxiety witnesses and victims of crime can face while pursuing justice.
Zuhey, a 5-year-old Labrador retriever, is a facility dog trained through Service Dogs of Virginia. She has been with the office for about two months now. This month, Stolle and Zuhey’s handlers, Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Patrick Connolly and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Robin Bland, introduced the supportive pooch to reporters outside the courthouse.
Zuhey did not take questions, but her human colleagues had a lot to say about training and calmness – and her potential to help people through difficult times.
“Our victims and witnesses, when they come down here to the courthouse, it’s often times to relive one of the worst experiences of their lives,” Stolle said.
He said Zuhey is trained to be a compassionate influence, and she is a remarkably calm one.
Connolly, who oversees victim and witness services for the office, said he has already seen the positive effect of Zuhey upon people, especially children.
“You can see they’re nervous,” he said.
Zuhey can turn that around. One witness encountered Zuhey and started smiling through their tears, he said.
Bland is the primary handler, and Zuhey lives with her when not they are not working at the courthouse.
“She’s my new roommate,” Bland said.
It is another component of the job, she said.
And another way to help people.
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