Sarah Doolittle receives 2022 Alberta Community Justice Award!
Our incredible Very Important Paws & On-site Courthouse Manager, Sarah Doolittle is a 2022 Alberta Community Justice Award recipient!
Sarah Doolittle and her four-legged partner Fletcher, a trained facility dog, are instrumental in the supports provided at the Zebra Child Protection Centre a Child Advocacy Centre in Edmonton.
Sarah joined Zebra in 2002 when it opened and was in a volunteer role for 13 years before being employed as the Very Important Paws (VIP) Coordinator in 2015. As the VIP Coordinator, Sarah is essential in making sure that the utilization of facility dogs at Zebra runs smoothly and effectively. Sarah also assists in ensuring that court accompaniment is offered to every single family who attends court at the Edmonton Law Courts.
Sarah and Fletcher are often found at the Edmonton courthouse every single day supporting children and families. She advocates continuously for victims of crime to have adequate support when it comes to testifying in court.
Fletcher is a wonderful Yellow Lab who joined the VIP Program in October 2015 after graduating from the Edmonton-based Dogs with Wings (DWW) service program. Fletcher is often seen at the courthouse supporting children, youth and families both in the waiting room and on stand. He can also be found supporting kids while they are doing court preparation at the Centre as well as in forensic interviews where children are telling their story.
The VIP Program is crucial to the operation of the Centre and does not go unnoticed by the families that access the supports offered by Zebra. Having facility dogs at a Child Advocacy Centre can be hugely beneficial for children and their families. The physical and mental calming effects of a dog have been well researched, lowering heart rate and blood pressure and reducing depression, trauma, loneliness and low self esteem are just some of the well-documented benefits. Many children would not be able to share their experience/s if it weren't for the support of a facility dog. The dogs empower families to be able to cope in seemingly impossible situations. The value of a dog’s comforting presence becomes increasingly recognized by not only the families but also Zebras on-site and off-site partners. One of the huge benefits of having a facility dogs at Zebra is they provide a type of support that humans cannot. They are there saying absolutely nothing and providing support in a non-judgmental way.
Congrats Sarah and Fletcher! We are so lucky to have such an impactful duo on our Zebra Herd!