Two dogs: One mission of comfort, courage and strength

Stuffy, the golden-haired four-legged staff member of CornerHouse, has a gift. When he approaches a child who’s too scared to talk about something unimaginable that’s happened, he calms them.  

Their shoulders soften. They wipe their tears away. Their anxiety turns to curiosity. The calm exhale comes without a word being spoken, in the presence of Stuffy the facility dog.  

Facility dogs work in a visitation, education, treatment or therapeutic setting. Healing sometimes begins with a soft nuzzle, a steady heartbeat or the quiet weight of a dog resting gently beside someone trying to be brave. 

With support from our Office of Justice Programs (OJP), two extraordinary facility dogs — Stuffy at CornerHouse and Nova in Stearns County — are helping victims and children find their voice.  

“As we mark Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which is April 19-25, we recognize the advocates and organizations who refuse to let victims face trauma alone, including facility dogs and their handlers. Their partnership not only supports victims’ rights and dignity, it also brings comfort to difficult interactions,” said Joann Jones, training and communications coordinator for OJP.  

Nova joined the Stearns County Attorney’s Office in 2019 after they spent years researching how facility dogs can ease fear and anxiety for victims and witnesses. Trained by Helping Paws in Hopkins and partnered with handler Keli Trautman, the golden retriever has supported hundreds of people navigating the criminal justice process. Her calm presence has helped children disclose abuse, supported families through unimaginable grief and even made Minnesota legal history. In 2023, Nova became the first facility dog allowed on the witness stand with a child victim during a jury trial. The Minnesota Court of Appeals upheld the decision to allow facility dogs on the witness stand. 

Nova doesn’t do the work for awards or accolades — although she would accept a treat — but the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association named her as the newest member of their Hall of Fame in 2024. She was featured on “Good Morning America” as the first facility dog in Minnesota to work with a witness in a court proceeding.  

“Nova is a superhero when she puts her work vest on. She just knows it’s time to help,” Trautman said.  

Helping and compassion run in the family. Nova’s sister, Norie, works with Ramsey County and was the first facility dog in Minnesota to appear in a federal court proceeding. 

Stuffy works as the facility dog for CornerHouse, the oldest child advocacy center in Minnesota. They’ve been facilitating child interviews since 1989 and are trained to work with children of all ages, working with children as young as 2 years 8 months old up to adults.  

Trained through Patriot PAWS Service Dogs in Texas, Stuffy is especially attuned to children who have experienced trauma. “He senses rising anxiety, offers grounding through his calm breathing and gives children something safe to hold onto when their stories feel too heavy,” said Stuffy’s handler Elizabeth Eagle.  

Stuffy’s journey wasn’t a simple one. He struggled with anxiety himself and needed a placement where he could build confidence through routine and gentle transitions. CornerHouse was the perfect match. Now he helps children regulate their emotions during interviews, supports families from the moment they walk in and even takes a weekly “work-from-home day” to recharge so he can keep doing his best. 

Together, Nova and Stuffy remind us justice is not only about laws and courtrooms. It is about humanity, dignity and the quiet moments of connection that help survivors feel safe enough to speak.