Courthouse Dogs Foundation

10/09/2026

That's a wrap on Vancouver! 🐾💙

What an incredible few days at the 2026 International Courthouse Dogs® Conference!

From inspiring speakers and thought-provoking sessions to meaningful conversations, new friendships, and plenty of wagging tails, Vancouver gave us so much to celebrate.

To everyone who helped make our first conference in Canada such a success, THANK YOU!

💙 Our attendees for traveling from near and far, sharing your experiences, asking thoughtful questions, and bringing such energy and enthusiasm.

💙 Our speakers and panelists for generously sharing your expertise, research, stories, and practical insights.

💙 Our sponsors, planning committee, and volunteers for the time, resources, and dedication that made this gathering possible.

💙 The team at Coast Coal Harbour Vancouver Hotel by APA for welcoming our two- and four-legged guests and helping everything run smoothly.

🐾 And, of course, our extraordinary facility dogs the heart of this community and a constant reminder of why we do this work.

What makes this conference so special isn't just what we learn. It's the connections we make, the ideas we take home, and the shared commitment to bringing the comfort and support of facility dogs to more people and communities.

As we head home, we're feeling inspired, grateful, and excited about what's ahead.

Thank you, Vancouver. And thank you to this remarkable community for all you do, every day. More photos to come!

10/08/2026

Greetings from the Courthouse Dogs International Conference. I’m just one of 33 facility dogs in attendance and very happy to be here!

10/07/2026

A powerful welcome and opening to our conference from Elder Dennis Joseph of the Squamish Nation.

This short clip doesn’t do his song justice. A good reminder that we are guests and the work we do is bigger than any of us.

10/07/2026

Our conference starts today and we're already looking forward to our closing keynote, Sgt. Jesse Schellenberg of the Vancouver Police Department.

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT | CLOSING KEYNOTE

Meet Sgt. Jesse Schellenberg & Police Service Dog Jade

On July 16, 2022, Vancouver Police Sgt. Jesse Schellenberg and his canine partner, Police Service Dog Jade, responded to a dangerous and unpredictable call.

Jesse credits the training, preparation, and partnership he shared with Jade with helping him make it home alive that night.

At the 2026 International Courthouse Dogs® Conference, Jesse will close our two days together by sharing their remarkable story:
A Dog That Saved My Life — The Story of Jesse and Jade

An 18-year veteran of the Vancouver Police Department in British Columbia, Canada, Jesse served as Jade’s handler and as a trainer with the VPD Canine Unit. In this deeply personal keynote, he’ll reflect on that day, the bond that carried them through it, and what it means to place your trust—and your life—in the paws of your partner.

While Jesse and Jade’s work is different from that of the justice facility dog teams at the heart of our community, their story speaks to something we all understand: the extraordinary partnership that can develop between a highly trained working dog and the person by their side.

It’s a powerful story to bring our time together in Vancouver to a close—and one we’re honored to share.

The closing keynote is proudly presented by the Vancouver Police Foundation. We are deeply grateful for their support of the conference and their commitment to the training and equipment that helps keep VPD handlers and their dogs safe.

2026 International Courthouse Dogs® Conference
📅 October 7–8, 2026
📍 Vancouver, BC

10/06/2026

We're just a few days away from the start of our conference, and our stellar speakers are ready! Check out our latest speaker spotlight.

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT

Meet the Panel: Beyond the Courtroom

Facility dogs are increasingly being called to serve beyond the walls of the justice system—responding to community tragedies, mass casualty events, and other moments of collective trauma.

At the 2026 International Courthouse Dogs® Conference, an experienced panel will explore what it takes to be ready when that call comes:

Beyond the Courtroom: Facility Dogs in Community & Crisis Response

Moderated by Dr. Staci Beers of the FBI Victim Services Division, the conversation brings together expertise from training, victim services, crisis response, and firsthand facility dog deployment:

-Linda Milanesi, Assistance Dogs of the West
-Kim Gramlich, Delta Police Victim Services / Justice Facility Dogs Canada
-Gina Yeager, Fifth Judicial District DA’s Office, New Mexico
-Amber Urban, 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, Colorado / Founder, Paws Assisting the Legal System (PALS)

Together, they’ll explore how dogs are prepared for crisis-response work, the training and protocols handlers need before deploying, and the emotional realities of answering an unexpected call to serve.

The panel will also discuss the growing federal recognition of facility dogs in crisis response, including the FBI’s 2026 Facility Dog Best Practice Guidelines.

And this is a conversation, not just a presentation. Bring your questions and learn from people who have prepared for—and answered—the call. Because when a crisis happens in your community, preparation can’t begin after the phone rings.

2026 International Courthouse Dogs® Conference
📅 October 7–8, 2026
📍 Vancouver, BC
✔️Register: https://cdf2026conference.sched.com/

09/30/2026

We're just one week away from our conference, but there's still time to register! You don't want to miss the opportunity to learn and be inspired by our stellar speakers. Today's spotlight is on Katie Gray.

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT

Supporting people through some of the hardest moments of their lives is meaningful work. It can also take a toll on those who show up, day after day, to help.

At the 2026 International Courthouse Dogs® Conference, Katie Gray, President of The Empowered Heart® Foundation, will open Day 2 with an important conversation about handler wellness:

The Importance of Self-Awareness in the Face of Trauma

Secondary traumatic stress is real and common among professionals who work closely with survivors, witnesses, and victims. Katie will explore how it can show up for facility dog handlers, how to recognize it in ourselves and our colleagues, and strategies for making this work sustainable over the long arc of a career.

As an author, counselor, speaker, and creator of The Empowered Heart method, Katie has dedicated her work to helping people navigate difficult experiences through compassion, consciousness, and self-awareness.

This isn't a session about simply pushing through. It's about building the inner resources to continue showing up—for your dog, for the people you serve, and for yourself—year after year.

2026 International Courthouse Dogs® Conference

📅 October 7–8, 2026
📍 Vancouver, BC
✔️Register: https://cdf2026conference.sched.com/

09/30/2026

We hope you had a good weekend, Lorne!

Lorne here! 😎🐾

Just checking in to wish everyone a fabulous weekend! My plans include soaking up some Florida sunshine, relaxing in the shade, and making sure everyone around me remembers to slow down and enjoy the good stuff.

Stay cool, enjoy the sunshine, and have a pawsitively wonderful weekend! ☀️💛

09/17/2026

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT

Meet Dr. Kerri Rodriguez

We see it every day in this work—a child's shoulders drop, a witness takes a breath, a survivor finds the words they couldn't find before.
We know the presence of a facility dog can make a difference. But what does the science tell us about what's actually happening in those moments?

At the 2026 International Courthouse Dogs® Conference, . Kerri Rodriguez, Assistant Professor at the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine, will bring the research behind the human-animal bond to the stage in her session:

The Science of the Bond: What Research Tells Us About Dogs, Stress, and Human Healing in High-Stakes Settings

Dr. Rodriguez has spent her career investigating the measurable impacts of the human-animal bond, including the effects of therapy and facility dogs on wellbeing and the potential stress-buffering effects of dogs.

She'll explore what the science tells us about dogs in high-stakes settings, what we still don't know, and why continued research matters for the future of the justice facility dog model.

For those who have seen firsthand that this work changes lives, this session offers something powerful: the evidence to match the instinct and the language and data to help explain why it matters.

2026 International Courthouse Dogs® Conference
📅 October 7–8, 2026
📍 Vancouver, BC
✔️Register: https://cdf2026conference.sched.com/

09/17/2026

We love seeing Lorne, Barley and Polar out spreading a little joy while raising awareness about the important role facility dogs play in supporting children through difficult experiences.

Thank you for sharing these great photos!