Meet the Herd: Our Dog Handlers

Our Very Important Paws (VIP) Program is an essential part of the Zebra Centre’s process. Whether they are supporting kiddos at the Centre or the courthouse, Captain, Fletcher and Triggs excel at providing comfort and love to everyone they meet. 

In order for our facility dogs to support children and their families, they need the support of a reliable handler. There are three incredible members of our herd that work in partnership with our dogs everyday.

Meet Melanie Dziwenka, Stephanie Franks and Sarah Doolittle!

Tell us a bit about yourself and your background. 

Melanie: My name is Melanie Dziwenka and I am a Family Support Coordinator at the Zebra Child Protection Centre. 

I graduated from MacEwan University in 2019 with a degree in Child and Youth Care and as of 2020 I am a Certified Child and Youth Care Counsellor. Most of my job experience has been with organizations in the city that support children, youth, and families in different capacities. Some of my experiences include: working with the Children’s Wish Foundation, the Ronald McDonald House in Edmonton, the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation as well as practicums with the Boys and Girls Club and Chimo Youth Retreat Centre. I learned about Zebra back in 2015 in my first month of university and immediately knew I wanted to have my final practicum there. I ended up doing my practicum in August of 2018. I was a practicum student up until April of 2019 and then started in a staff capacity the same week I graduated in May of 2019. 

Stephanie: My name is Stephanie Franks and I am a Family Support Coordinator at the Zebra Child Protection Centre. 

I am a mother of two boys (ages 15 and 12.) I have been at the centre on and off for the past 5 years. I worked with Edmonton Public Schools and Edmonton Police Service before coming to the Centre. I have always loved animals and now having the opportunity to work with one every day is like a dream come true!

Sarah: My name is Sarah and I am originally from the UK. I married a Canadian and moved to Canada nearly 20 years ago. We got married in London on September 11, 2001 – a very memorable day in more ways than one. I joined Zebra in 2002 when it opened, doing 13 years as a volunteer before being employed as the Very Important Paws (VIP) Coordinator, overseeing our dog program. I am a Child Advocate and I spend most of my time in court with my awesome dog, Fletcher, supporting kids who have to testify about the abuse they suffered.

What does a typical work day look like?  

Melanie: My role as a Family Support Coordinator looks a bit different every day. I look at the court supports for all files happening out of the Edmonton courthouse. My day could look like: scheduling court preparations, corresponding with Crown Prosecutors, conducting court preparations, supporting in meetings between the child and the crown prosecutor as well as going to court to support a child while they are testifying. I am also Captain’s primary handler here at the Centre so I am with him throughout the day. Additionally, I may bring him into one of our child friendly spaces for a meet and greet or get him ready for an interview.  

Stephanie: A typical work day consists of many interactions with families in person as well as on the phone. It also includes updating files when there have been arrests made and making sure families are kept up to date with court.

Sarah: My schedule is all over the map, but typically, Fletcher and I would be in court with a family and we would sit on the stand with a child while they tell the judge what happened to them. After court, we might go back to Zebra to meet another family who has come to the centre to get prepped for another court case. It makes for some very long days, but it is so rewarding to see the positive effect that Fletcher has in calming the child down and relieving their anxiety. He provides unconditional love and makes them safe in the midst of a very uncertain time for them.

What is the dogs’ role at the Centre?

Melanie: Captain’s role here at the Centre is to interact with the children, youth and families. This could be through a quick meet and greet or in a forensic interview with a child. He will soon be training to go to court where he will continue to do meet and greets as well as go on stand while the child is sharing their testimony.  

Stephanie: They help reduce negative stress responses by snuggling and showing unconditional love towards all the kids that come to the Centre. The dogs provide a sense of healing for the kids that humans cannot. 

Sarah: Fletcher spends most of his time in court or doing preps in the evenings at the Centre. He is there to cuddle with the children and to relieve their anxiety and stress. I honestly believe that some children would not be able to do the tough job that we ask of them, talking about their extremely difficult experiences, without a dog by their side to help them.

Please share your favourite memory you have with the dogs.

Melanie: It is very hard to pick one memory as I have so many within the 6 months I have worked with Captain. One of my favourite memories was when a child came to the Zebra Centre for an interview and really bonded with Captain during the meet and greet. A couple months later, the boy came back for another interview and I learned that Captain inspired his family to get a black lab.

Stephanie: My favourite memory so far with Triggs is when we were ending our training with Dogs with Wings and something just clicked. I felt this bond with Triggs and he seemed to have felt the same with me. That’s when I knew we were going to make a great team! 

Sarah: I remember a trial I did at court with a teenager some years ago. She had a very difficult time on the stand. We returned to our waiting room and she ran into the washroom and curled up in a fetal position. Fletcher took it upon himself to go into the washroom and he began to lick the tears from her face. They sat on the floor and cuddled for around 10 minutes while her breathing slowly returned to normal. After a while, she stood up, took his leash, and said “let’s go back into court and finish this.” The power and comfort in the presence of a dog is amazing!