Remembering courthouse dog Darwin

Darwin, the beloved Curry County courthouse dog, passed away on September 19, but his memory will live on in all the people he knew and the many victims he comforted throughout his stay.

Darwin, an English Labrador Retriever, came to work at the courthouse in November 2019 as part of a statewide program called Assistance Dogs of the West, Darwin's handler, later owner Judith Glikas said. ADW trains dogs for different types of services, including as courthouse dogs.

"These dogs provide calm and comfort to people who are victims of crime," Glikas said. "It's geared mainly toward children who have been abused and come into the (Ninth Judicial) district attorney's office for their first interview and they're scared.

"(The children) are in a new world and they know nothing about these people who are asking them questions, so that's really scary. The courthouse dog is there to be their friend and calm them down," she said.

Darwin lived with Glikas the whole time he was the courthouse dog.

He died young when he was four years old, she said. About a year ago, he started to have digestive issues and was vomiting. During surgery in July of 2022 to remove a large mass in his intestines, the doctor "discovered his intestines were diseased and he wouldn't live very long."

"Darwin was the sweetest soul you could ever hope for in a dog," Glikas said. "In working with a victim, he could sense a person in the room that was stressed. He would go sit by you or put his head in your lap."

She said he knew 90 commands. "He was obedient and could pick things up from the floor for you –such a good dog, a special dog. He was talented and to die so young –it was just heartbreaking that he died so young."

Darwin comforted the people in the DA's office, too, she said. "If one of the attorneys had a bad day in court, they would just lay down on the floor next to him and de-stress.

"(Darwin) was always looking for somebody to help," she said.

Andrea Reeb, former DA for the Ninth Judicial District, "had the vision" to bring a courthouse dog to the DA's office and "put the money in the budget, so they could afford him," she said.

Reeb said Darwin's handler was her administrative assistant and "he (Darwin) pretty much lived outside my office any day, when he wasn't in court."

Reeb was also his backup home caregiver, when Glikas went out of town, she said.

"As far as anyone missing Darwin at the courthouse -- he was pretty much a staple in the courthouse-everyone recognized him," Reeb said. "He will be missed by the employees of the courthouse, the judges, the District Attorneys...but most importantly, he will be missed by the victims he served."

ADW trains dogs so that "if people are emotional or stressed, the dogs will gravitate towards the victim," she said. "They can feel when a victim is stressing too much while testifying and needs a break.

"My understanding is the new district attorney is not applying for a courthouse dog at this time," she said.

Eleisa Muñoz is the victims advocate director for the Ninth Judicial district attorney's office.

Darwin was "especially important" for working with victims of child crimes and victims of serious crimes, with all victims to help ease their anxieties," Munoz said.

Darwin would sit next to the victims, "providing a calming influence –his presence does that alone, breaks up the tension in the room," she said.

"If we were working very closely with a victim, (Darwin) would build a relationship with that person, so to speak," she said. "A lot of times," victims would specifically request that Darwin be there.