Kids at Juvenile Court Playing with “Puppy Pals”
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PARIS, Tenn.- Henry County Sheriff Monte Belew and the juvenile court judge have partnered up to help the kids going through the court system, and they have a few four-legged friends who are a vital part of this plan. It is called the “Puppy Pal Program.” The sheriff’s department has designated a special room for the children in Department of Children’s Services cases, where they can play with dogs as they wait for their court appearance. The hope is that the puppies will serve as a distraction and help keep them calm. “The puppies were happy, the kids were happy and they were not sitting in this courtroom with other defendants or if the kids had been through a traumatic situation it kind of helps alleviate the stress,” said Henry County Sheriff Monte Belew. The sheriff tells us the puppies are brought in from the county animal shelter, which is operated by his department.
