(KNSI) – A furry four-legged member of the Stearns County Attorney’s Office will make her national news debut on Thursday.
Nova and her handler, Keli Trautman, will be featured on ABC’s Good Morning America three (GMA3) at noon. If you can’t watch it on TV, the segment will be posted on GMA’s website after it airs. TV crews visited the area in August to meet with Nova and Trautman.
Earlier this year, Nova became the first dog in Minnesota to be by the side of a young victim as she took the witness stand at trial to confront the man who sexually assaulted her. According to the attorney’s office, Nova and Trautman have helped many victims and witnesses in preparation for trial, but this was the first time Nova was allowed to appear with the victim during a court appearance.
The golden retriever joined the department in 2019 after Helping Paws in Hopkins trained her for two-and-a-half years.
Fifteen other states also allow the use of courtroom facility dogs.
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