Errol the courthouse dog retires after a decade of service
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Good boy. Photo: Christine Clarridge/Axios
After 10 years spent giving gentle nuzzles and comforting cuddles, Errol the courthouse dog is retiring — and the King County Council is making sure he goes out with the honor he deserves.
Why it matters: Dogs in court have proven to be a comfort for victims and witnesses, especially children and older adults, in a justice system that can feel antiseptic and intimidating.
- Courthouse dogs like Errol bring warmth and calm — sitting quietly beside people as they testify, offering a paw, a head on a lap or just steady companionship when it's hardest to speak.
How it works: Each courthouse dog — typically a labrador or golden retriever mix — is specially trained to comfort survivors and witnesses during interviews, hearings, and trials.
- They attend long, emotional proceedings — from child abuse to homicide cases — providing quiet support and easing trauma for those reliving painful experiences, said Page Ulrey, senior deputy prosecutor, head of the Elder Abuse Unit and Errol's longtime handler.
- People are able to open up to Errol and his predecessors in ways they may not be able to with people, she said.
- "For 20 years I've gotten to walk side by side with these beautiful creatures and it's been a gift to me, not to mention all the people they've helped," Ulrey told Axios.
Catch up quick: King County pioneered the courthouse dog concept 20 years ago, when deputy prosecutor Ellen O'Neill-Stephens brought her son's service dog, Jeeter, into juvenile court.
- The experiment worked so well that another dog, Ellie — Ulrey's first canine protégé — followed soon after, becoming the first official courthouse dog in the nation.
- Since then, the concept has spread nationwide.
- When Errol joined the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office in 2014, he became the nation's 100th courthouse dog, a full-circle moment for the county that started it all.
The latest: At a packed County Council meeting yesterday, officials proclaimed Oct. 21 as Errol the Courthouse Dog Day.
- Errol and Kasha — a courthouse dog-in-training — sat patiently through the celebration, graciously accepting kisses, pets, and congratulations.
What they're saying: "For 10 years Errol has served the people of King County with quiet strength, patience and an extraordinary gift for bringing calm and comfort to hundreds of vulnerable witnesses: young children, survivors of gender-based violence, our elders as they navigated the most difficult moments of their lives," Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion said.
- "We owe you a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid no matter how many biscuits we give you."
What's next: We'll let you know when the next courthouse dog is ready to report for duty.