Connecticut Law About Dogs

Connecticut Law About Comfort and Support Dogs For Witnesses
These links connect to resources available and are provided with the understanding
that they represent only a starting point for research.

This page is maintained pursuant to the provisions of Public Act 17-185 (effective October 1, 2017), codified at Conn. Gen. Stat. § 51-10d.

The Court may exercise its discretion to permit a comfort dog to support a testifying witness.

See State of Connecticut v. Devon D., 321 Conn. 656, 138 A. 2d 849 (2016).

Please note: Comfort and support dogs do not meet the definition of "service dogs" under the ADA.

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Connecticut General Statutes

Case Law

Chapter 870 - Judicial Department

Sec. 51-10d. Judicial Branch Internet web site. Notice and information re animal-assisted therapy. The Judicial Branch shall maintain on its Internet web site (1) notice that the court may exercise its discretion to permit a dog to provide comfort and support to a testifying witness, (2) a hyperlink to the Internet web site of an organization that provides information regarding animal-assisted therapy resources, and (3) if applicable, a hyperlink to information regarding such resources on the Internet web site of the Division of Criminal Justice.

Information and Resources

211 CT - Animal Assisted Therapy

Assistance Dogs International - Standards for Facility Dogs

Courthouse Dogs Foundation

Courthouse Dogs Foundation - Best Practices Manual

Paws 'N Effect - Paws Cares Program
- Rules and Policies

Pet Partners - terminology

Soul Friends - Animal Assisted Therapy Programs of Connecticut

Tails of Joy - Providing Therapeutic Benefit to People Through the Use of Animals

Please note: Some organizations may provide comfort and support dogs for witnesses at no charge.

Research Guides

Research guides prepared by the Connecticut Judicial Branch law librarians:

Connecticut:

State of Connecticut v. Devon D., 321 Conn. 656, 138 A. 2d 849 (2016) The Appellate Court incorrectly concluded that the trial court had abused its discretion in permitting a dog to sit near C1 for comfort and support during her trial testimony.

State of Connecticut v. Devon D., 150 Conn. App. 538 n.10 for a discussion differentiating between the terms service dogs, therapy dogs, and facility dogs.

Other Jurisdictions:

State of Tennessee v. Jose Reyes, 505 S.W. 3d 890 (2016)
People v. Johnson, 889 N.W. 2d 513 (2016)
Ohio v. Jacobs, Court of Appeals of Ohio, 9th District, Summit County, 2015-Ohio-4353
The People v. Darrell L. Chenault, 175 Cal. Rptr.3d 1 (2014)
The People of the State of New York v. Victor Tohom, 969 N.Y.S. 2d 123 (2013)
State of Washington v. Timothy Dye, 309 P.3d 1192 (2013)

Law Reviews

Marianne Dellinger, Using Dogs for Emotional Support of Testifying Victims of Crime, 15 Animal Law Review 171 (2008)
John Ensminger, Cases and Statutes on the Use of Dogs by Witnesses While Testifying in Criminal Proceedings: A Periodically Updated Online Article, Animal Legal & Historical Center, Michigan State University College of Law, 2016.

Gabriela N. Sandoval, Court Facility Dog - Easing the Apprehensive Witness, 39 Colorado Lawyer, No. 4, April 2010.

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