'Paw and Order: SDU' Program Debuts in Harris County


The Harris County District Attorney's Office and the Houston Bar Association's Animal Law Section announced the kick off of "Paw and Order - Special Dog Unit" at a press conference on November 2. This twice-monthly program is designed to comfort witnesses and children who have been subjected to domestic violence and abuse by offering "dog therapy" or the comfort of a welltrained dog to relax the witness prior to giving statements or testimony.

On hand to announce the "Paw and Order" program were, from left, Belinda Smith of the DA's Office and chair of the HBA Animal Law Section; HBA First Vice President David Chaumette; Donna Hawkins of the DA's Office; and Jennifer Varela of the DA's Office, holding Shelby.

Paw and Order dogs will wear distinctive orange bandanas that identify them as service animals. After visiting with an animal, the children will be given a keepsake bandana of their own to take home. The program is offered free to the District Attorney's Office and has been fully-funded by donations and volunteers, so there is no cost to taxpayers.


On hand to announce the "Paw and Order" program were, from left, Belinda Smith of the DA's Office and chair of the HBA Animal Law Section; HBA First Vice President David Chaumette; Donna Hawkins of the DA's Office; and Jennifer Varela of the DA's Office, holding Shelby.

"We are thrilled to offer this innovative program to people who have been exposed to domestic violence," said Prosecutor Belinda Smith of the DA's Animal Cruelty section and chair of the HBA's Animal Law Section. "Animals have been shown to offer comfort and relaxation to people who are undergoing stressful events, and we hope this will lead to a better quality of witnesses and statements given in criminal prosecution."