An academic paper based on FYDO project research has been published!
A collaborative effort by the University College Cork (UCC) School of Law and the University of East Anglia (UEA) School of Psychology, ‘Secondary Victimisation in the Justice System: Facility Dogs to the Rescue’ explores the concept of secondary victimisation, touches upon the efficacy of facility dogs and reports on the innovative work of the FYDO project. In 2021 and 2022, this groundbreaking project pioneered the use of facility dogs to support victims in Belgium, France and Italy with support from the Justice Programme of the European Union.
Both the benefits and challenges of animal-assisted therapies (AAT) are explored, leading to a comprehensive understanding of the application of these supports. Finally, the results of the FYDO project are given centre stage, where one can see the impact facility dogs have had on a diverse range of victims through their own testimonies.
Based on the work of the Courthouse Dogs Foundation in the US, VSE lead the first European project to train at least 5 dogs in across Europe to support vulnerable victims during criminal proceedings. Facility Dogs (FYDO) are carefully selected and highly trained by specialist organisations and handled to support vulnerable victims in their recovery.
Authors: Conor O’Mahony (Professor, School of Law, University College Cork), Elizabeth Spruin (Reader, School of Psychology, University of East Anglia), Marianne Joyce (Research Assistant, School of Law, University College Cork).
Read the full paper here.
Wish to learn more about the FYDO project? Read more here.
