Malvern, a 2-year-old Labrador golden retriever mix, has been the Santa Barbara County Courthouse dog for nearly a year. He's a therapy dog, trained to provide comfort to children during difficult times.
In a recent case, Malvern sat next to two young girls as they testified against the man who molested them.
"We feel that he made a big difference in their ability to be able to be as courageous and brave as they were and we ultimately ended up getting a conviction," volunteer attorney Donna Crawford said.
Malvern doesn't cost taxpayers any money. He's owned by a volunteer attorney, who pays for all the costs of his care and upkeep.
The Los Angeles district attorney is now looking at starting a similar program.
