About Us
At Courtroom Critters, we provide Elite Therapy Dog Teams when you need them most. Our services are entirely free, as we are all volunteers. We rely on the support of local businesses and philanthropists.
We specialize in supporting victims, survivors, and witnesses of traumatic crimes. Our work extends to partnering with the Vegas Strong Resiliency Center, lawyers, police, domestic violence shelters, and other community resources.
We proudly serve the greater Las Vegas area including Henderson and Boulder City.
All of our Dog Therapy Teams, including the handlers, are tested and observed on an annual basis with Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD). Each dog must meet annual veterinary requirements, and each dog is insured with liability insurance. Read more about ATD here.
How it all began.
As a retired police officer, Stephani Preston Loffredo felt compelled to focus her volunteer efforts on aiding victims. She started incorporating dogs into the law enforcement field to help victims speak about their situation. Stephani's first dog, Tyler Blaze, had that perfect demeanor which helped victims, survivors and witnesses of traumatic crime tell their story in the courtroom.
Tyler Blaze now has wings, and Hufflepuff has taken over with his charming demeanor and unique smile.
Hufflepuff now leads the pack of Therapy Courtroom Dogs, and sets an exemplary standard for others to follow.
Stephani's initiative elevates Therapy Dogs to the role of Courtroom Dogs, a crucial distinction that requires exceptional empathy. "Courtroom Dogs are a rare gift, requiring a level of empathy beyond the ordinary," Stephani explains.
Together with dog trainers Janet and Darlene, Stephani founded Courtroom Critters, now a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization. Their mission is to fulfill as many requests as possible, bridging the gap between therapy and courtroom support.
While their primary focus is courtroom assistance, Courtroom Critters boasts over 40 Comfort Critters ready to spread joy and compassion in schools, universities, businesses, and medical facilities.
A well-trained, certified therapy dog is truly incomparable.
