Sarpy County Attorney’s Office gets new therapy dog

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Trio, a trained facility dog, joined the Sarpy County Attorney’s Office as a member of their team earlier this month.

The two-year-old male lab will create a sense of calm at the courthouse while providing emotional support to crime victims and witnesses, especially children.

Jean Brazda, chief of staff, is Trio’s handler. The pair trained together throughout April at Canine Companions in Ohio.

“I’m proud that we’re able to provide a facility dog for crime victims who have experienced trauma. They need to know they are not going through the process alone,” Brazda said.

Before working with Brazda, Trio went through 16 months of obedience and socialization training.

He also went through an additional six months of intensive training geared toward specific tasks he will need to complete.

Canine Companions gave Trio to Brazda for use at the Sarpy County Attorney’s office at no cost.

Trio is Sarpy County’s second facility dog.  Manny, who died in January, was the first courthouse facility dog in Nebraska, spent 8 years working in the County Attorney’s Office.

“For the past eight years, we’ve seen first-hand the important role a facility dog can play in a courthouse setting,” said Sarpy County Attorney Lee Polikov. “We’re excited to have Trio at the Sarpy County Courthouse and know he’s going to do amazing work.”