Lincoln, Falkor, Mays, Java, Salto, Voltigeur, Tera, Scala and Joe are no ordinary dogs. They’re trained by the Mira Foundation to accompany people who have experienced sexual and domestic violence and have filed a complaint in court. Their calm and comforting presence provides emotional support to victims during the legal process.
Last January, five new service dogs were introduced to support victims of sexual or domestic violence. According to a press release from the Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Quebec, more than 120 victims have been supported by Java and Falkor since the pilot program began in June 2022. Java and Falkor are the service dogs working in the judicial districts of Beauharnois and Drummondville.
A calming presence in court
Service dogs are carefully selected for their calm and gentle nature. They are trained to provide comfort and reassurance to victims as they go through the process in the specialized court for sexual and domestic violence.
Service dogs never work alone – they’re always accompanied by a specialized worker from the Crime Victims Assistance Centre (CAVAC). In the courtroom, the dog stays on a small platform right beside the victim, who can touch the dog and be comforted by its calming presence during the hearing and their testimony.
This service isn’t yet available everywhere in Quebec. Currently, you can ask for a service dog at the specialized court for sexual and domestic violence in seven districts: Trois-Rivières, Laval, Baie-Comeau, Bedford, Kamouraska, Beauharnois and Drummondville.
|
Would you like to testify with the help of a service dog? First, you need to contact the Crime Victims Assistance Centre (CAVAC) in your area to ask for a service dog. After that, you’ll need to ask the court for permission to testify with the dog (link in French only). This kind of request is called a “testimonial aid measure”. |
Rebuilding trust
Since 2022, people who have experienced sexual or domestic violence have been able to file a complaint with the specialized court for sexual and domestic violence. This court is designed to put victims at the center of the legal process and provide support that’s better tailored to their needs at every stage. The use of service dogs is one of the services put in place to help achieve this goal.
To date, the specialized court is available in 24 of Quebec’s 36 judicial districts. The government plans to expand it across the entire province by November 30, 2026.