MARQUETTE — When victims of abuse or other trauma must share their experiences with prosecutors or in a courtroom, having someone there to provide emotional support can be beneficial.

A 5-year-old, 75-pound Labrador retriever is lending a paw to victims in need.

Harv is the Marquette County Prosecutor’s Office canine advocate. The Canine Advocacy Program provides services to crime victims by utilizing highly trained dogs to help alleviate the anxiety associated with being in court, the CAP website states. CAP services are provided at no cost to assist prosecutors in providing advocacy services to victims.

Harv was raised in an Iowa prison in the Leader Dogs for the Blind program, but due to his hip dysplasia was taken on by CAP and officially hired by the prosecutor’s office on Aug. 13, 2015.

At night Harv is a typical fun-loving dog, but during regular business hours he trades in his collar and leash for a bandana and his Marquette County name tag. Harv’s services are offered to anyone who may need a companion or additional support while handling court matters.

“There’s kids here that are witnesses or victims for some type of hearing that may be coming up, we’ll have him sit with them, they give him treats, they can pet him, it helps them to relax a little bit,” said Marquette County Prosecutor’s Office manager and Victim Witness Coordinator Sandy Place.

Harv is social yet calm, loves children and is also intuitive to others’ feelings.

“I think he’s a pretty sensitive dog too,” Place said. “He doesn’t like when people are upset. It’s almost like it’s upsetting to him when people are upset. We have some situations where people are crying, actual bursts of crying, and he gets what’s going on and I think he wants to fix it.”

Even if Harv hears crying behind an office door, he’ll be waiting just outside to greet whoever may need him, said Diana Dost, legal assistant with the Marquette County Prosecutor’s Office.

Harv’s presence can provide comfort to those facing trying times, she added.

“It’s breaking down that barrier because most of the time when they are coming in here they’re having to talk about their event again,” Dost said. “Breaking down that barrier and having him there and he doesn’t judge, I think it’s just a comfort level.”

The office is happy to have Harv to offer that support, Place said.

“We’re here every day and we’re used to everything we see and hear and deal with and you get a victim where it’s the first time they’re victimized or it’s their child, it’s a big deal in their lives and coming into this office may be intimidating. It’s not somewhere that they want to be,” she said. “But he offers that little bit of normalcy and relief.”

The two have seen the comfort Harv can provide victims firsthand.

“I’ve actually sat in with him on a situation where we had a mildly mentally impaired victim and every time this person was asked a question, they would reach out and pet him and they’d answer and then come back to discussion, asked a question, they would reach out and pet him, in that situation, it was really interesting to watch him work,” Place said.

Harv’s not only helping the victims who walk through the doors of the office, he’s also become a support system for the prosecuting staff.

“They’re just so unconditional. I think they’re a huge support and I don’t think you even realize it,” Place said. “For all of us even working here, he comes up to you and sits and looks at you or puts his head on your leg and you just feel yourself come down a little bit.”

Every staff member has their own routine with Harv, whether it’s his morning brushing with Dost or tricks and treats with Place. On especially stressful days, staff might even take a moment for a quick game of fetch with him in the hall.

“I’ve noticed the attorneys, if they’re having rough days in court or whatever, he sits in my office and they’ll come and just pet him and that’s for them to unwind, they just need to pet the dog and then they go about their day,” Dost said.

Those little moments with Harv can be so beneficial for staff, Place said. And when Harv takes vacation days, his absence doesn’t go unmissed.

“Obviously the subject matter that we deal with is difficult, so to have him here just to support us is a big thing, too,” she said. “He’s just a good dog, he’s a really sweet dog.”

He’s become another coworker and an important member of the office staff, they said.

“It’s just the happiness he brings to people and he’s not even trying, he’s just being him(self),” Dost said.

Every day when the clock nears 5 p.m., Harv’s bandana comes off and he parades through the office to each desk, bandana in tow, to let everyone know the work day is done.

Trinity Carey can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206. Her email address is tcarey@miningjournal.net.