AKRON, Ohio — Summit County’s drug court has a furry friend that helps provide comfort to those in the courtroom and his name is Tank, according to an article from News 5 media partner Akron Beacon Journal.
The golden retriever was brought in as a therapy dog last year after judges shared mixed opinions of the idea of a dog in drug court. Jillian Zetts, the probation officer who works with Tank, pushed for the court to bring in a therapy dog, the article said.
Tank was a service dog dropout and had trouble focusing on one person, but fit the role of therapy dog perfectly, according to the article.
After Zett found Tank, Summit County Common Pleas Court took care of his $1,500 adoption fee and the cost of his daily expenses is covered by probation services’ funds and state money for recovery services, the article states.
Tank was so well received, Graham Road Animal Hospital in Cuyahoga Falls offered to donate vet services for the therapy dog’s health and wellness, according to the article.
Participants of the drug court are given a sense of compassion with Tank in the room. The participants and their children are able to pet and snuggle with Tank, helping them to relax in a high-stress environment, according to the article.
“In a court setting, comfort — there is not a whole lot of that,” said Sarah Shepherd, 29, from Akron, who has been sober for 8½ months. “Having Tank there is fantastic.”
