By Colleen Pierson
WKTV Contributor
greer@wktv.org
There was a proclamation from Governor Whitmer, numerous awards given out to volunteers, and lots of tail wagging going on.
I was at the Kent County Courthouse on April 30 to celebrate two powerful milestones — eight years of the Courthouse Therapy Dog Program and 25 years of service by West Michigan Therapy Dogs (WMTD). The event featured Michigan Supreme Court justice Elizabeth M. Welch, who presented an official resolution honoring both of the programs profound impact in our community.
On any given day, a courtroom can feel intimidating — sterile, formal, and heavy with emotion. For children and vulnerable adults, the experience of testifying can be overwhelming and very stressful. But in Kent County, something remarkable has been quietly reshaping that reality for the past eight years: the steady, comforting presence of therapy dogs.
At the heart of this initiative is a simple yet deeply human truth: connection matters.
“You can’t replicate, you can’t buy it — that human-animal connection,” said Heather McCormick, President of West Michigan Therapy Dogs. Her words reflect what many in the courtroom have witnessed firsthand. “I have seen a child testifying, and a dog puts their head on their lap — brings calm. They offer so much.”
What they offer goes far beyond companionship. Since it’s launch in 2018 in partnership with Kent Circuit Court and the 61st and 63rd District Court, the program has expanded across the county, placing specially trained therapy dog teams in courtrooms where they are needed most. These dogs provide a steady presence that helps reduce anxiety, improve focus and improve stress levels of witnesses.
Judge Kathleen Feeney, who initiated the use of therapy dogs in the courtroom in 2017, has seen the transformation unfold.
“We saw so many changes in the courtroom with the dogs,” she explained. “Kids had increased confidence while testifying. The dogs provide comfort. Victims think more clearly, and they realize they are not alone.”
The therapy dogs don’t interrupt proceedings or change the facts of a case, but they transform how people experience one of the most difficult moments of their lives; testifying in a court case.
West Michigan Therapy Dogs began with vision and compassion 25 years ago. Jeanne Lewis, proud owner of Rosie the dog and co-founder of the group, helped establish the organization with a clear purpose.
“I started the group to promote what dogs are capable of. They have so much to offer.”
For volunteers like Ron Roden, whose golden retriever Kaiser has become a beloved presence, the work feels almost instinctive.
“Kaiser was born to do this,” Roden said with pride. “He loves to give people hugs and will just lay his head on shoulders for a calming effect.”
Therapy dogs are used in hospitals, schools, airports, grief centers, libraries and courtrooms, just to name a few.
The courtroom is a place often defined by tension and testimony, these dogs bring something rare—comfort without condition, presence without pressure, and healing without words.
And sometimes, that’s exactly what’s needed most.
