This Gard fire brigade legal assistance dog is there to help litigants, victims or accused, to best deal with the ordeal of the criminal trial. For the first time he spoke on Thursday 19 October at the Hérault.
In September he was in Marseille, innext to the bus driver being tried for the terrible Millas accident. This Wednesday, October 19 in Montpellier, Rancho, the Gard’s fire brigade legal assistance dog, is across the bar, at the feet of a victim. For several months, this three-year-old American Labrador accompanied the litigators at this very special moment which is the criminal hearing.
He regularly intervenes in the court of Nîmes
“When the person emits negative emotions, the dog will feel him, he will ask for strokes, be attentive. He is a dog of comfort, of empathy” explains Marshal Jérôme Lapp. “This is the first time in Montpellier, but he regularly intervenes in the court of Nîmes”.
Sexual violence committed by the cook
In front of the Montpellier court, Rancho meets Sylvie, a mentally deficient young woman who has been a victim of sexual violence for many years, in the Hérault Aid through Labor Institute (Esat) where she works as a cook. The cook who recognized these multiple inappropriate gestures appeared free at the hearing. Caresses, hugs: Sylvie holds Rancho’s leash firmly as she enters court, along with her attorney, Me Pëchevis. He lies down at her feet, in front of the plaintiff’s desk, she has her head down, and looks only at him.
A concept imported from the United States
“Today we have an assistance dog, who does not intervene in any way in the court decision. It is simply a psychological aid to help people overcome the ordeal of the criminal trial, but it is completely neutral.” indicates President Frédéric Almendros. In 2019, while he was a prosecutor in Cahors, the magistrate fought to introduce the first legal assistance dog, a concept imported from the United States.
Rancho falls asleep at Sylvie’s feet
At the helm, Frédéric, the cook, answers questions, while the president details the alleged facts. The room is crowded, it is hot, the time is getting longer. On her bench, Sylvie is crying. Rancho, on the other hand, has his muzzle resting on his feet, but he seems … sound asleep. Her master wakes him up, he straightens up, she caresses him, he goes back to bed.
After the break and a bowl of water, Rancho transforms. He is standing against Sylvie, wagging his tail, resting his muzzle on her lap. “He was very busy this morning, and clearly he wasn’t at work this afternoon. Normally, when the person cries, he walks up to her, sometimes he is directly on top of her.” notes Assistant Llap. “But Sylvie seems happy to have him with her this afternoon.”
