Potter, a yellow Lab, was trained through a prison program.
WILMINGTON -- When New Hanover County prosecutors are faced with interviewing fearful witnesses or victims of crime, the prosecutors' secret weapon will sidle up to the witness or victim and lay his furry yellow head on their lap.
Since November, Potter, a yellow Labrador retriever, has worked full-time as an emotional support dog at the New Hanover County Courthouse.
Obtained at no cost through the Wilmington-based non-profit Paws4People, Potter has a magical way of destressing the people around him, said District Attorney Ben David.
“Potter is the one welcoming everyone as they come in,” said David. “When I go out in public, I’m now more approachable because of him.”
In July, David made a trip to the St. Marys Correctional Center in St. Marys, West Va. in the hopes of snagging one of Paws4People’s specially trained dogs. Inmates at the prison spend a year training the dogs to prepare the animals for the outside world. It’s during the dogs’ prison stint that people hopeful for a companion can make a pitch for their needs. Someone may need a medical alert dog for epilepsy; a veteran could be looking for a dog to help with post-traumatic stress disorder; a quadriplegic may request a dog as a way to regain independence. In David’s case, he was looking to provide comfort to the most vulnerable of the victims on his caseload.
At the prison, in a ritual called “bumping,” the dogs were brought before the hopefuls and Potter picked David from the crowd, the prosecutor said.
In August, Potter began his training at the University North Carolina Wilmington learning the specific skills necessary to meet David’s needs. By November, he was ready and became a full-time courthouse worker and member of the David clan.
Potter's influence on victims is undeniable, David said.
"First he gives us a natural thing to talk about that’s not horrible. He’s the icebreaker. He’s a continuing distraction that will take them off the really heavy stuff. What we try to do with our little victims is show them we’re good people and they can trust us. Nothing disarms someone more than a puppy," David said. "He’s that kind of guy that everybody just naturally gravitates to."
In addition to aiding crime victims and fearful witnesses, Potter offers an unexpected bonus -- he helps to improve staff morale.
For David, whose suit pockets are now almost always full of kibble, Potter is a welcome diversion from the ugliness of the crimes he and his staff witness daily.
"He keeps me calm," David said smiling down at Potter, who was standing between David's feet. "He's just great."
Reporter F.T. Norton can be reached at 910-343-2070 or Fran.Norton@StarNewsOnline.com.