Bedford County swears in first court facility dog
As a court facility dog, Martin is trained to provide comfort and support to people navigating the court process. Courtesy photo
Martin stands with his handler, probation officer Codi Spangler. Courtesy photo
As a court facility dog, Martin is trained to provide comfort and support to people navigating the court process. Courtesy photo
Martin stands with his handler, probation officer Codi Spangler. Courtesy photo
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BEDFORD -- Bedford County's newest court officer stands on four legs, is covered in fur and brings smiles to children and adults alike.
Alongside three new probation officers, President Judge Travis W. Livengood swore in the county's first Court Facility Dog, Martin, but instead of shaking hands, Livengood gave the pup a fist bump, one of Martin's greeting tricks.
Like many court facility dogs, Martin is trained to provide comfort and support to individuals navigating the court process. Martin's big eyes and wagging tail are meant to reduce stress for people, especially children, going through difficult times.
"I believe that Martin is going to be an incredibly busy dog," Judge Brandi J. Hershey said during Thursday's event.
Paw-some personality
About two years ago, Livengood and the district court administrator attended a conference where they heard about other counties' court facility dogs.
"As soon as I saw what these dogs could do, I said, 'We need one of those,'" Livengood said.
The court was waitlisted until they received word about Martin, who is specially trained and certified through Susquehanna Service Dogs. Bedford County probation officer Codi Spangler is Martin's primary handler and the pooch will work alongside the probation office and the Court of Common Pleas.
Spangler said Martin has a very outgoing personality, which is one reason he was chosen as a facility dog.
"He loves everybody," she said.
Martin clocks into work at 8:30 a.m., Spangler said. From then until he leaves in the afternoon, he can help with family court proceedings involving children, treatment court team meetings and court sessions, criminal court proceedings, juvenile dependency and delinquency proceedings and guardianship proceedings involving elderly and incapacitated people.
Spangler said Martin will be an asset to many court proceedings to come.
"It's probably endless, the jobs that he can do," she said.
The court welcomed Martin last Friday, Livengood said, and that same day, he met with a 10-year-old sexual assault victim. Also, he supported another child who testified during a custody case hearing.
Martin can also relieve stress in older adults suffering from cognitive decline or dementia, Hershey said, as many are scared and confused when entering a courtroom.
Hershey said Martin's position wouldn't have been possible without Livengood's hard work and dedication.
"He is consistently looking for ways to improve the courthouse and the court systems, and he's willing to look outside the box to get things done," she said.
Learning opportunity
After the ceremony, seven students from Bedford Area High School greeted Martin with pets and scratches, alongside their criminal justice teacher, Tiffany Ulanowicz. She said the students are currently learning about the criminal justice system through police investigations, trials and corrections.
"This was a great opportunity for us to see the probation side of it because we don't get to see a whole lot of probation," she said.
Thursday was the first time those students witnessed a dog being sworn in. And they loved it.
"Martin is super cute," sophomore McKenna Diehl said. "He seems like a good fit."
Regardless of Martin's puppy eyes, Ulanowicz said watching his swearing in ceremony beside her students was one for the books.
"It's really cool that we have this opportunity in our small community," she said.
Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.