PROJECT HALO

Alberta's First Heart Healer

Dogs With Wings Lucy was the 1st dog in Canada to appear on the stand in the court of law and the 1st dog in Alberta to join a Police Based Victims Services Unit.  Her handler, Michelle Hauser, created a successful training program in Alberta that has trained over fourteen Victim Service Unit dogs (the most in any province) and quickly became leaders in the justice program. 

Lucy’s quiet demeanor and calm disposition clearly shone working with little children in the forensic interviews and court proceedings in her home town of Camrose.  Soon the team was summoned by subpoena, on behalf of the crown, travelling across Alberta under a special grant to be of service to littles and families in court.

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During lengthy days at the court house, Michelle would bring a suitcase of dress clothes along with a bottle of hot pink nail polish and encouraged the children to paint Lucy’s nails.  With two years of extensive training these dogs will sit patiently and help pass the time of long days spent in a lonely, intimidating sequester room.  From the time the victim is interviewed, to their day in court, this process can take a maximum of three, arduous years.  Meeting these littles and their families allowed for trust to be built among the smallest of moments between Lucy, the victim support advocates and most significantly police members. It is in these tiny snippets of play these littles can walk confidently into the court room full of adults, leash in hand, take their seat, and tell their truth in front of their assailant (often someone they know, love and trust). 

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Lucy changed the province and the country on how we help victims of trauma one tail wag at a time.  Her legacy of kindness and service lives on in Project Halo.