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Basso Brothers Practical Dog Training
Distance: 0.5 Mi
98004 Bellevue -
Any Breed Training
Distance: 4.4 Mi16105 SE 45th Ct
98006 Bellevue -
4 on the Floor
Distance: 7.1 Mi1421 Queen Ave NE
98056 Renton -
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Distance: 7.9 Mi10821 56th Ave S
98178 Seattle -
Nitro K-9
Distance: 7.3 Mi7542 Roosevelt Way NE
98115-4221 Seattle
Website Links
Description
Ellen O’Neill-Stephens is a senior deputy prosecuting attorney in Seattle, Washington; a pioneer in the use of dogs to provide emotional support in the criminal justice system; and the founder of Courthouse Dogs. Since 2003, she has promoted the use of highly trained assistance dogs to provide comfort to children and adults who are victims or witnesses of crimes and support juveniles and adults in mental health and drug courts. Ellen’s son Sean and his service dog Jeeter were the inspiration for the Courthouse Dogs program. Ellen received her bachelor’s degree in Sociology, was a juvenile probation officer before entering law school and has been a prosecuting attorney for over 25 years. Celeste Walsen DVM works with criminal justice facilities to teach staff members the practicalities of using highly trained dogs in victim/witness support programs. As Executive Director of Courthouse Dogs, Dr. Walsen is currently working to develop nationally recognized guidelines that will equip victim advocates, forensic interviewers, prosecuting attorneys, and other legal professionals to effectively employ dogs to provide support for vulnerable people of all ages. Dr. Walsen holds a BA in Psychology from the University of California Berkeley and a DVM from Louisiana State University. Ellen and Celeste are Office of Victims of Crime Consultants (OVC TTAC) on the use of courthouse dogs working in the criminal justice system. They have assisted prosecutor’s offices, child advocacy centers, and law enforcement agencies throughout the country in establishing successful courthouse dogs programs in their jurisdictions.