3 dogs from BI nonprofit to serve crime victims across Puget Sound

Published 1:30 am Monday, August 10, 2026

Assistance Dogs Northwest of Bainbridge Island has announced the graduation of three courthouse facility dogs that will serve in prosecutor’s offices around the Puget Sound region.

The one-and-a-half-year-old black labradors and littermates Edison, Emmett, and Emmy have just completed Team Training Camp with their new handlers, who are prosecutors and victim advocates. Upon graduation, each dog will begin serving children and other vulnerable victims of crime by providing comfort and emotional support throughout the criminal justice process, per a news release.

• Edison will join the King County Prosecutor’s Office in Seattle.
• Emmett will serve at the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office in Everett.
• Emmy will begin work with the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office in Tacoma.

“Courthouse facility dogs play a vital role in supporting victims throughout the legal process. They accompany children and vulnerable witnesses during forensic interviews, meetings with prosecutors, courtroom testimony, victim advocacy appointments, and other stressful proceedings. Their presence has been shown to reduce stress, lower anxiety, and help victims remain calm while participating in the justice process,” the release says.

ADNW’s courthouse facility dogs complete 18 months of highly specialized training before being matched with their professional handlers. Carefully selected for their exceptional temperament, each dog masters more than 70 cues, public access skills, and the ability to remain calm and focused during forensic interviews, in busy courthouses, and other challenging environments. During Team Training Camp, handlers learn to work with their new canine partners, preparing each team to serve victims with confidence and compassion, per the release.

The three new teams will join a growing network of ADNW assistance dogs serving communities throughout the Pacific Northwest. In addition to courthouse facility dogs, the nonprofit trains service dogs for children and adults with disabilities and full-time hospital facility dogs.