Canine Classmates has impacted approx. 300 victims by providing court facility dogs to victims of sexual abuse and assault through a partnership with the Comal County District Attorney’s office. The dogs support victims from pre-trial meetings through sentencing as they relive some of the worst experiences of their lives.
Research shows that one in ten children will be the victim of sexual abuse before their eighteenth birthday. Being a victim of a violent crime, particularly sexual assault, can make sharing the truth about the experience terrifying. For a child, reliving those traumatic memories can be especially overwhelming.
The effects of abuse are far-reaching and complex, but a dog can provide support for some of the emotional challenges caused by violence and harassment. Canine Classmates offers the Comal County District Attorney’s Office specially trained Court Facility Dogs to assist victims and witnesses of violent crimes.
We also support students through our reading literacy program, which serves students across 27 schools in New Braunfels and Comal ISDs. Over the past twenty years, we have helped approximately 4,000 students strengthen their reading skills.
Learn more at www.canineclassmates.org.