Justice Facility Dogs in Arizona
Nicole Vigil
Arizona State Coordinator
Justice Facility Dogs US
These agencies have professional handlers working with certified facility dogs in Arizona.
ChildHelp Children’s Advocacy Center, Phoenix – (CCI)
Coconino County Juvenile Court – 2 dogs (ADW)
Maricopa County District Attorney, Phoenix –(Power Paws)
Pima County Attorney’s Office, Tucson – 2 dogs (ADW)
Facility dog Russell, trained by Assistance Dogs of the West
Appellate Court Decision
State v. Millis (2017)
391 P.3d 1225, 1233 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2017)
Full text of the opinion here
Court of Appeals of Arizona, District 2, March 9, 2017.
Defendant Millas choked an 8-month-old baby to death. The baby’s mother, a witness, had established a bond with Blake, the victim advocate’s facility dog, during the proceedings leading up to the trial and she asked that the court permit Blake to be with her during the trial. The court was informed that Blake would not accompany her when she testified but would only sit with her in the gallery.
The defendant argued Arizona crime-victim law gives a victim a right to be accompanied by a support person, not a support animal, and that the dog would unfairly prejudice him by inviting the jury to base its decision on emotion or sympathy. The state argued Blake would not prejudice Millis and would help the mother testify in the midst of difficult circumstances. After a hearing, the trial court found that the dog’s presence would not unfairly prejudice Millis.
The appellate court affirmed the trial court’s decision.
ADI Accredited Organizations
The following organizations place facility dogs in the state of Arizona. Please visit their websites to find out more about each organization.
ADW – Assistance Dogs of the West