Maine’s first courthouse facility dog, Ice, is no longer allowed inside state courthouses following a policy change announced in February.

Former prosecutor Paul Rucha spent nearly two years training Ice to provide emotional support to children who have experienced abuse and must testify in court.

Rucha said Ice helped reduce children’s anxiety during interviews and legal proceedings, offering comfort during traumatic experiences. However, the Maine Judicial Branch changed its policy to allow only service dogs for people with disabilities, citing concerns about allergies, fear of dogs and previous incidents involving therapy dogs.

Ice continues to support children at the Children’s Discovery Museum of Central Maine and local Child Advocacy Centers. Rucha hopes the judicial system will reconsider the policy and allow exceptions on a case-by-case basis, emphasizing the positive impact Ice has had on vulnerable children.

newscentermaine.com