PawPrint Ministries brings comfort and calm to Macon County Courthouse

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — Inside the Macon County Courthouse, a different kind of support is helping victims, witnesses and even staff navigate some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

PawPrint Ministries has two comfort dogs, Bauer and Gambit, supporting people inside the courthouse.

In the victim-witness area, where emotions often run high, these dogs offer a simple yet powerful presence.

Melinda Rueter, a handler with PawPrint Ministries, said bringing dogs into the courthouse was always part of her vision.

She said the idea quickly became reality with support from the State’s Attorney’s Office, allowing trained comfort dogs to assist victims before and after court appearances.

“Studies show that dogs lower cortisol levels. They increase communication,” she explained. “And I have actually seen that with children, especially … on one of the most traumatic days of their life, and the dog is there for them.”

Those moments, she said, can make a lasting difference.

“They hold lots of tears and lots of secrets … and it’s such a rewarding thing to see the difference that they can make,” Rueter said.

The program has expanded to include dogs of different sizes and temperaments, enabling tailored support for each individual’s comfort level. Whether it’s a child preparing to testify or an adult processing trauma, the presence of a dog can ease anxiety in ways people sometimes cannot.

“Dogs do not judge. So they can just be there for that individual in that space and in that moment,” Rueter said. “And it just makes such a huge difference.”

Tanya Haubner, a PawPrint handler and victim advocate with the Macon County State’s Attorney’s Office, works alongside one of those dogs, Bauer, every day.

Hubner said she first got involved after helping with a training session and quickly realized the impact these dogs could have. Now, her dog Bauer is a constant presence in the courthouse, offering support not only to victims, but to staff as well.

“I meet almost daily with victims and their families … and to see them knowing they’re coming in to talk about a very hurtful time in their life … and then they see the dog … the smiles that come on their face … you can see a little bit of their angst and anxiety melt away,” Haubner said.

That impact can be immediate and even in high-stress situations.

“We went and picked up two witnesses to a murder trial … they were both very anxious,” Haubner said. “When one of them got into the car … you can see all of it just melts … ‘Oh, I love dogs.’”

Rueter explained that when someone needs to testify at trial or in open court, the dogs don't enter the courtroom. Instead, they are there for comfort before and after. She recalled a time a victim took Gambit's business card to the stand.

"It gave them a sense of security," she said.

In another case, Haubner said a young child preparing to testify found comfort in simply being close to the dog.

“The whole time she was waiting, she was playing tic-tac-toe with the dog,” she said.

Moments like that, she said, highlight just how powerful the connection can be.

“What he can do is amazing … I’m super proud of him and proud that we can give this back to our community,” Haubner said.

For Rueter, the work goes beyond the courthouse. PawPrint Ministries also serves nursing homes, disaster scenes and other community spaces.

“We just want to provide comfort … and you see it on people’s faces,” she said. “It just really feeds my soul.”

As the program continues to grow in Macon County, both handlers said their goal remains the same, and that is to ensure no one has to face difficult moments alone, especially when a wagging tail can make all the difference.

PawPrint Ministries is hosting a FurBall on April 18. To get tickets to support the cause, click here.