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Spokane County prosecutor's office to host witness dog; indemnification resolution slated for later docket
Summary
Spokane County prosecutors introduced a therapy/witness dog to assist crime victims, and a resolution approving indemnification language in a partnership letter with Assistance Dogs Northwest was placed on the commissioners' afternoon docket.
Spokane County officials announced on June 10 that the prosecutor's office will host a trained therapy dog to support crime victims and witnesses, particularly children, and that a resolution approving indemnification terms in a letter of agreement with Assistance Dogs Northwest will appear on the afternoon docket.
County staff said the dog, nicknamed O'Malley, is a black Labrador about 3 years old and will be handled by a volunteer handler paired with the prosecutor's Special Assault Unit. The agreement with Assistance Dogs Northwest covers training and placement; county staff said the county's financial responsibilities will be limited to routine care such as food and veterinary costs and that the partner organization provided the dog and training.
Prosecutor's office staff framed the program as a trauma-informed support specifically for vulnerable witnesses and crime victims. The item was brought to the commissioners as a briefing; the county attorney's office noted a resolution to approve the indemnification provisions in the letter of agreement is on the docket at 2:00 p.m. and will be considered later in the day. The briefing did not record a final vote on that resolution.
County staff thanked Assistance Dogs Northwest and identified internal staff who helped clear administrative hurdles to allow the dog on campus. Staff also described voluntary daily training routines and said the partnership model allows the county to avoid upfront procurement and training costs.
The briefing included representations that similar programs exist in other Washington counties and that the statutory basis for using therapy or witness dogs in court contexts was cited during the presentation. Commissioners and staff described the initiative as low-cost and likely to provide emotional support to victims and staff in courthouse settings.
The agenda item at the afternoon docket will address only the indemnification provisions in the partner letter; the briefing did not record any formal contractual execution or appropriation beyond routine operating expenses identified by staff.
The county said it will monitor the program as it becomes operational and that additional operational details or requests would be returned to the board if needed.
