Goodable

Every once in a while, the world gives us proof that one person really can change the course of history. In this story, it’s not a person – it’s a comic strip character.
In 1968, Charles Schulz, the creator of the Peanuts comic strip, received a letter from a schoolteacher named Harriet Clickman. She wrote it on April 15, just eleven days after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, asking him to introduce a Black character on the Peanuts who would be friends with Charlie Brown.
Schulz wrote back a few days later telling Harriet that he wanted to, but didn’t want the character to be seen as a token way of patronizing the Black community. After corresponding back and forth, Schulz decided to create a Black character named Franklin.
<img src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQcWtyGXUBBxyuzrdG-9umLfC_-DXM5b_yMrg&amp;usqp=CAU">
This picture is the first time he met Charlie Brown. It was on a beach, in public, with the two of them building a sandcastle. During the 60s, many public locations including beaches were segregated. When they met, Franklin explained that his father was a soldier fighting in Vietnam, and Charlie Brown replied that his dad was also a veteran. By showing Charlie Brown, who was white, and Franklin, who was black, both together in the same place as children, Charles Schulz was making a statement. It was as simple as it was profound: In America, everyone belonged.
<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FYmLBmfWYAEMbR3?format=jpg&amp;name=360x360">
It wasn’t long before Schulz began to receive hate mail. One of his comic strips showed Franklin sitting in front of Peppermint Patty in school. Schulz drew it during a time when schools were fighting against de-segregation. One southern newspaper editor even wrote to him and said “I don’t mind you having a black character, but please don’t show them in school together.” Through it all, Schulz never wavered and kept Franklin as a beloved member of the Peanuts gang.
<img src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/fa/71/8e/fa718e7fba2d1f520e9e6404bec5da79.jpg">At one point, the criticism was so severe that Schulz’ own boss approached him and asked him to change the character.
“Either you print it just the way I draw it,” Schulz replied, “or I quit. How’s that?”
Over the years, Franklin became an indispensable, equal part of the Peanuts gang. He played with the kids afterschool, became a great singer, and even danced in some of the animated specials. He also quoted from the New Testament and talked about his family history with Charlie Brown. It was all Charles M. Schulz’ way of tackling racism head on.
<img src="https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Peanuts-gang-cr-j-res.jpg?w=681&amp;h=383&amp;crop=1">The best part? He did it in a way that influenced generations of young children who grew up reading his comics. So in Charles M. Schulz’ case, his pen really was the mightiest weapon of all.

The Incredible, Untold Story of Franklin From The Peanuts

Mongabay

In a year filled with alarming news about vanishing species and shrinking ecosystems, a few hopeful stories stood out — reminders that with enough time, protection, and persistence, recovery is possible.

Here are five species that Mongabay reported on in 2025 whose resurgence is offering rare but real optimism.

Cape vulture
Once on the brink, the Cape vulture (Gyps coprotheres) — southern Africa’s largest vulture — is inching its way back. In 2021, the bird’s status was upgraded from endangered to vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, thanks to decades-long efforts that included tackling landowner conflicts, protecting power lines to prevent electrocution, and rehabilitation work. Captive breeding also played a role. Still, the job isn’t done. Some breeding colonies continue to disappear, showing how localized threats remain even as broader trends improve.

Green turtle
The green turtle (Chelonia mydas), long imperiled by hunting, fishing gear, and shrinking nesting beaches, has made one of the most visible recoveries of any marine species. After years of international protections and the rollout of turtle-friendly fishing gear, populations in some regions are bouncing back. So much so that the IUCN this year reclassified the species from endangered to least concern. It’s a rare shift in the right direction — and one that conservationists say should be a model for other sea turtle species still in decline.

Campbell’s keeled glass-snail
For years, Advena campbelli — the Campbell’s keeled glass-snail — was presumed extinct. Then came a surprise: a small surviving population was found on Norfolk Island, east of Australia. Conservation groups quickly launched a breeding program at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo. This July, 340 tagged snails were released back into Norfolk Island National Park. Follow-up monitoring has found the snails are not only surviving, but reproducing. The population now tops 800 individuals — a huge leap for a species that had vanished from scientific records for decades.

Bali starling
The Bali starling (Leucopsar rothschildi), a striking white songbird native to Indonesia, nearly vanished from the wild due to poaching and habitat loss. At one point, only six individuals remained. But an Indigenous-led conservation effort on Nusa Penida Island changed the story. In 2006, local villages adopted a set of customary laws to protect 64 captive-bred starlings released into the wild. By 2009, that population had climbed to around 100. As of 2021, another 420 Bali starlings live in Bali Barat National Park. With cultural support and community involvement, this once-doomed bird is now finding its voice again.

Siberian crane
One of the world’s most endangered birds, the Siberian crane (Leucogeranus leucogeranus) has seen its population grow by nearly 50% in the past 10 years. Conservation efforts along the eastern flyway between Russia and China have secured crucial stopover habitats, giving the snowy-white cranes safer ground during migration. The long-term focus on protecting these key sites, experts say, is turning the tide for a species that was once facing near-total collapse.

These stories don’t erase the scale of the biodiversity crisis. But they do offer proof that when species are given a fighting chance — through habitat protection, community involvement, and long-term commitment — recovery isn’t just possible. It’s already happening.

5 Endangered Species are Making a Remarkable Comeback Across the Globe

Auckland rang in 2026 with a downtown fireworks display launched from New Zealand’s tallest structure, Sky Tower, making it the first major city to greet the new year at a celebration dampened by rain. Around 3,500 fireworks were then launched during a five-minute display from various floors of the Sky Tower, local media reported.

South Pacific countries are the first to bid farewell to 2025. Clocks strike midnight in Auckland, a population of 1.7 million, 18 hours before the famous ball drops in New York’s Times Square.

The five-minute display involved 3,500 fireworks launched from various floors of the 240-meter (787-foot) Sky Tower. Smaller community events were canceled across New Zealand’s North Island on Wednesday due to forecasts of rain and possible thunderstorms.

Australia’s east coast welcomes 2026 two hours after New Zealand. In Indonesia, one of Australia’s nearest neighbors, cities scaled back New Year’s Eve festivities as a gesture of solidarity with communities devastated by catastrophic floods and landslides that struck parts of Sumatra island a month ago, claiming more than 1,100 lives.

In Japan, crowds will gather at a Buddhist temple in Tokyo for a bell striking at midnight. In the South Korean capital Seoul, a bell tolling and countdown ceremony will be held at the Bosingak Pavilion.

Auckland rang in 2026 with a downtown fireworks display launched from New Zealand’s tallest structure, Sky Tower, making it the first major city to greet the new year at a celebration.&nbsp;Around 3,500 fireworks were then launched during a five-minute display from various floors of the Sky Tower, local media reported.South Pacific countries are the first to bid farewell to 2025. Clocks strike midnight in Auckland, a population of 1.7 million, 18 hours before the famous ball drops in New York’s Times Square.The five-minute display involved 3,500 fireworks launched from various floors of the 240-meter (787-foot) Sky Tower. Smaller community events were canceled across New Zealand’s North Island on Wednesday due to forecasts of rain and possible thunderstorms.Australia’s east coast welcomes 2026 two hours after New Zealand. In Indonesia, one of Australia’s nearest neighbors, cities scaled back New Year’s Eve festivities as a gesture of solidarity with communities devastated by catastrophic floods and landslides that struck parts of Sumatra island a month ago, claiming more than 1,100 lives.In Japan, crowds will gather at a Buddhist temple in Tokyo for a bell striking at midnight. In the South Korean capital Seoul, a bell tolling and countdown ceremony will be held at the Bosingak Pavilion.

New Year 2026: New Zealand kicks off celebrations with dazzling fireworks

Euro News

For more than 30 years, tattooing in South Korea has existed in a legal grey zone, its artists celebrated online but criminalized in real life. That’s finally changing.

A new law passed in September 2025 has paved the way for non-medical professionals — the vast majority of tattoo artists — to be licensed and recognized as legal workers. It marks a major breakthrough for a community long forced underground, despite widespread demand for their work and growing popularity among younger generations.

Until now, the practice of tattooing without a medical license carried penalties of up to five years in prison or a 50 million won fine, thanks to a 1992 Supreme Court ruling that defined tattooing as a medical procedure. That didn’t stop the art form from thriving in secret. As of 2021, South Korea had an estimated 350,000 tattoo artists, most working without any legal protection.

For artist Gui He, the result was constant uncertainty. “Because there are no laws protecting tattoo artists in Korea, I do not feel secure,” she says. “When I think about my life and my future, my biggest problem is instability.”

The fear went beyond financial stress. Without legal recognition, tattooists couldn’t access standard worker protections — no health insurance, no pensions, no ability to report abuse or harassment. They often couldn’t get business bank accounts or even apply for credit cards. “Like any non-legalized activity, they could hardly seek help when facing danger,” says filmmaker Hicham Touili-Idrissi.

Touili-Idrissi, alongside co-director Nancy-Wang Musisá, documented the community’s struggles in Angels, a film that captures the resilience and artistry of underground tattooists in Seoul. The central figure is Pie Boy, a young man covered in facial tattoos who aims to challenge the stigma by being, as he puts it, “kind to every single person he encounters.”

“You can have tattoos all over your face and still be an angel,” Touili-Idrissi says, quoting Pie Boy’s philosophy. “These friends are angels to me. They are makers of good and beauty.”

That contrast — between the art and the assumptions — sits at the heart of tattoo stigma in South Korea. Historically, tattoos have been associated with gangs and criminal punishment. In Korea, China and Japan, criminals were once forcibly tattooed as a form of marking and shaming. Those associations have lingered, especially among older generations.

Héin, another tattoo artist in the film, recalls walking through his neighbourhood and feeling judged. “The older people looked at me, saw the tattoo on my face, and became worried. Those were old women, like my grandmother.”

Touili-Idrissi says much of the tension is generational. “South Korean society is very divided by age,” he says. “The younger generation is very interested in tattoo culture, and the elders can only think of gangs.”

Still, even among the youth, visible tattoos remain a risk. In South Korea, tattoos often must be covered for job interviews, government exams, or military service. And until now, even the artists creating them had to hide their profession.

That secrecy gave rise to a tight-knit, if cautious, underground scene. Tattoo artists shared techniques, supported each other, and built a kind of shadow industry through social media and word of mouth.

“It became a hidden world,” says Touili-Idrissi, “where artists could share their fears, dreams, and most importantly, their art.”

The shift toward legal recognition came after years of quiet activism, including pressure from the Korean Tattooist Association and other grassroots groups. The new law will take full effect in 2027, and while it doesn’t erase the past, it opens the door to a different future — one where tattoo artists can work openly, get licensed, and finally be recognized as professionals.

The change is also expected to help regulate the industry, improving safety standards and stabilizing prices. “Fixing prices has been a big issue,” says Touili-Idrissi, “and the Tattoo Union shared with me that this could finally help.”

But legal change is only half the battle. Social stigma remains entrenched, and Touili-Idrissi is cautious about expecting fast cultural shifts. “The social stigma regarding tattoos is something that laws cannot necessarily change,” he says. “It seems to me that this will remain by the time the law passes, as it is in most countries.”

Still, there is hope that legal recognition will be a turning point — not just for safety and employment rights, but for how tattooing is seen within Korean society.

“Now that tattooists will be legally considered as workers, I hope that it will make it easier for them to engage in broader discussions around tattoo art in South Korea,” says Touili-Idrissi.

After more than three decades in the shadows, South Korea’s tattoo artists are finally getting a seat at the table. And maybe, with time, a little more understanding too.

South Korea Legalizes Tattooing, Bringing Underground Culture Into the Spotlight

BBC News

In the centre of Macclesfield, England a small shop is doing more than selling second-hand clothes — it’s changing lives.

Run by the charity Space4Autism, the newly opened shop is staffed entirely by autistic adults who are learning skills, gaining confidence, and building toward future employment. It's part of a new project aimed at tackling a harsh reality: just 30% of adults with autism are currently in work, according to government statistics.

Chief executive Cheryl Simpson said the initiative is about giving neurodivergent people real experience, and the support they’ve often been denied elsewhere. “They can do it, they just need people behind them supporting them to enable them to get there,” she said.

Simpson came up with the idea after noticing the charity’s work with autistic adults was expanding. The shop, she says, is far from a typical charity retail space. It’s been designed as a stepping stone, not an endpoint.

“It is not just your bog standard charity shop,” she said. “It is for autistic adults to come here as part of the Launchpad Crew and to give them the confidence and the skills in running a retail shop to hopefully try and either get them work experience or to get them a job somewhere at the end of it.”

Nineteen-year-old Corby is one of those taking part. He says working in the shop has already helped him become more confident, especially with talking to customers. He’s now hoping to land a job in retail full-time.

“I have more confidence talking to other people,” he said. Working the till and interacting with shoppers are now the parts he enjoys most.

To support staff like Corby, the charity has appointed Chris Smith as an employment buddy — someone who not only offers guidance, but also has lived experience of autism in the workplace.

“Some of them have had experience where they've been in the workplace, and they've not been supported in the right way,” said Smith. “I'm an autistic adult who has struggled in the workplace, so I can use that knowledge to say to them, ‘this happened to me.’”

That perspective, he says, is powerful. It shows team members that employment is possible — and that the key is not just personal resilience, but also finding the right kind of support and the right environment.

Employment co-ordinator Lis Brown says that part of the job is shifting perceptions about what autistic people can do. “From the autism point of view, a lot of people have got that negative attitude, so we wanted to show them that's not actually true,” she said.

She describes the Launchpad Crew as “very employable and very focused.” What they often lack, she says, isn’t ability — it’s opportunity.

The project has also attracted interest from local government. Cheshire East Council’s skills and lifelong learning manager Giles Sowden said the shop fills a gap left by traditional training programs. “What we wanted was something forward-thinking, giving lots of different experiences, work experience as well, and routes into employment — and that’s what Cheryl’s vision was,” he said.

That vision is now being shared beyond Macclesfield. Sowden says other councils across Cheshire and Warrington are taking notice, looking at how the model could be adapted in their own communities.

Councillor Laura Crane called the project “worth its weight in gold.”

“So many projects when we're talking about work experience, gaining entry into work are about the behind-the-scenes, CV writing etc,” she said. “This is there, it's real.”

The House of Lords recently echoed those views in a report reviewing the Autism Act, noting that many autistic adults do want to work, and that supporting them isn’t just good for individuals — it’s beneficial for the wider economy.

“Supporting more autistic people to find and stay in work is not only critical to enabling those who wish to work to fulfil their aspirations, but would also help unlock economic benefits for the country as a whole,” the report said.

That’s exactly what Simpson hopes to see. Whether or not every Launchpad Crew member secures long-term work, she says the goal is the same: giving them the confidence, skills and backing to pursue it.

“They've worked so hard, they've shown to us they can do it,” she said. “They just deserve that chance.”

‘They Just Deserve That Chance’: A Thrift Shop That's Helping Adults with Autism Gain Confidence and Skills

Kazuyoshi Miura isn’t done yet.

The 58-year-old Japanese striker, famously known as "King Kazu," has signed with Fukushima United, extending his unprecedented professional football career into a 41st season.

Miura, who turns 59 in February, joins the third-division J-League club on loan from Yokohama FC until June. “My passion for football hasn't changed, no matter how old I get,” Miura said in a statement. “I'm very grateful to be given the opportunity to play in Fukushima, and I will fight hard as a member of Fukushima United.”

His move marks a return to the J-League after five years in the lower divisions, including last season at Atletico Suzuka in the fourth tier. He made seven appearances there, but didn’t score, and the club was ultimately relegated to the regional leagues.

Fukushima United finished 10th in the 20-team third division last season. Miura said he’s committed to making an impact. “To all the Fukushima United players, coaching staff, fans, sponsors and people in the local area, I promise that I will play with everything I have to make a contribution.”

Miura’s career is unmatched for its longevity and reach. He made his professional debut in 1986 with Santos in Brazil, where he had moved alone at age 15 to pursue football. Since then, he’s played on five continents — with stops at Genoa in Italy, Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia, Sydney FC in Australia, and Oliveirense in Portugal.

In 2017, he made history by becoming the oldest player to appear in a professional match, at 50 years and seven days — eclipsing England’s Stanley Matthews, who held the previous record since 1965.

Miura was one of the first major stars of Japanese football when the J-League launched in 1993. That year, he won the inaugural MVP award playing for Verdy Kawasaki. During the 1990s, he scored 55 goals in 89 appearances for Japan and helped win the 1992 Asian Cup, where he was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

But not all milestones have been celebratory. His exclusion from Japan’s 1998 World Cup squad, despite his record, remains one of the most controversial decisions in the country’s football history.

Since joining Yokohama FC in 2005, Miura has been loaned to several clubs in an effort to keep playing time and fitness. His story stands out even among other veteran athletes. Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon played until 45 in Serie A, Zlatan Ibrahimović reached 41, and Marco Ballotta became the oldest Champions League player at 43. In the Premier League, John Burridge still holds the record for oldest player at 43 years and 162 days.

Miura, who has now outlasted all of them, continues to defy expectations.

His message, as always, is simple: “I will play with everything I have.”

The World's Oldest Professional Soccer Player Just Signed For One More Season

A team of adult cardiologists in West Sussex is being praised for stepping in to save a six-year-old child’s life after a critical heart emergency on Boxing Day.

The young patient arrived at Worthing Hospital in urgent need of treatment for a suspected cardiac tamponade — a rare but life-threatening condition where fluid builds up around the heart, putting dangerous pressure on it.

While not scheduled to be on duty that evening, consultant cardiologist Dr Marian Bencat and other members of the adult cardiology team rushed in to help.

“It was without a doubt the willingness of our adult cardiology colleagues to step in and manage a child that made all the difference,” said Kate Windsor, paediatric emergency department registrar.

Cardiac tamponade is a condition typically handled in specialised environments. But this time, everything had to happen fast and in less-than-ideal conditions. The procedure — known as a pericardiocentesis — involves using a needle and catheter to drain excess fluid from the sac around the heart and usually takes place in a cardiology cath lab.

“This was out of hours, in the emergency department, and we needed colleagues with the right expertise straight away,” said Dr Reza Zadeh, the hospital’s clinical lead for cardiology and one of the doctors who carried out the procedure.

Despite the urgency and the fact that paediatric cardiac cases fall outside their usual remit, the adult cardiology team acted immediately. With the help of ultrasound guidance, they successfully performed the procedure right there in the emergency department.

The hospital’s parent organisation, University Hospital Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, confirmed that performing this type of procedure outside of a cath lab is unusual and particularly complex.

Dr Reza called it “a powerful example of colleagues coming together across specialties to provide excellent care.”

“I’m really proud we were able to give this child the best chance of recovery,” he said.

Doctors Save Six-Year-Old's Life With Quick-Thinking Teamwork

Sid, a nine-year-old siamang gibbon living at Oakland Zoo, was caught on camera playfully goofing around with Raya, footage posted on December 27 shows.

Sid became “besties” with Raya after her companion, Hahnumahn, died earlier this year, according to Oakland Zoo.

The zoo said it worked with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) program to select Raya as Sid’s new companion.

“Sid let her intrusive thoughts win and just had to mess with Raya,” Oakland Zoo wrote on X.

Sid, a nine-year-old siamang gibbon living at Oakland Zoo, was caught on camera playfully goofing around with Raya, footage posted on December 27 shows.Sid became “besties” with Raya after her companion, Hahnumahn, died earlier this year, according to Oakland Zoo.The zoo said it worked with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) program to select Raya as Sid’s new companion.“Sid let her intrusive thoughts win and just had to mess with Raya,” Oakland Zoo wrote on X.

Gibbon 'Besties' Caught Goofing Around at Oakland Zoo

Fox News

Israeli archaeologists have uncovered a stunning piece of early Christian history: a 1,400-year-old gold treasure hidden at the site of a former monastery deep in the Judean Desert.

The find — two solid gold coins and a delicate gold ring — was made at the Hyrcania archaeological site, located roughly ten miles east of Jerusalem in the West Bank. Despite centuries of looting in the region, the artifacts remained miraculously intact.

According to Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the coins date back to the reign of Byzantine Emperor Heraclius, who ruled from 610 to 641 AD. That places the treasure squarely in the Byzantine era, when Hyrcania was home to a Christian monastery founded by followers of Saint Sabbas — one of the key figures in desert monasticism.

“These discoveries reinforce the understanding that Hyrcania was part of the monastic and religious landscape active in the Judean Desert during the Byzantine period,” COGAT said in a statement.

Archaeologist Binyamin Har-Even called the discovery an “important chapter from the Byzantine period and early Christian tradition in the region.”

The Hyrcania site originally began as a fortress in the late Hellenistic period, between the second and first centuries BCE. It later evolved into a thriving religious center that operated for hundreds of years.

This isn't the only recent mystery to emerge from the Judean Desert. Earlier in 2025, archaeologists also unearthed a 2,200-year-old pyramid-shaped structure made from massive, hand-carved stones — adding another layer of ancient intrigue to the region.

“These sites tell the story of thousands of years of human activity,” said Har-Even. “Our job is to protect them — and help the world understand the civilizations that once thrived here.”

1,400-Year-Old Gold Treasure Discovered at Ancient Christian Monastery in Judean Desert

The Guardian

For the first time since 2015, young Atlantic salmon have been spotted in three rivers in northwest England, signalling what experts are calling a “significant environmental turnaround.”

The critically endangered species was seen in the Mersey, Bollin, and Goyt rivers, confirming that the salmon have successfully completed their migration from the Arctic Circle to spawn in British freshwater for the first time in nearly a decade.

The sightings come less than two years after Atlantic salmon were officially declared critically endangered in Britain in 2023. Their reappearance has sparked cautious optimism among conservationists and government agencies.

“We’re very excited to find the fish successfully spawning, considering the species’ critically endangered status,” a spokesperson for the Environment Agency told the BBC. The agency plans to launch a new salmon distribution study in early 2026, using environmental DNA sampling to better understand the range and extent of the species’ recovery.

Atlantic salmon are known for their long migratory journeys. After spending two to three years feeding in the Arctic, they return to spawn in the freshwater rivers where they were born, using gravel beds to lay their eggs. But in Britain, their survival has been undermined by a combination of climate change, river pollution, and invasive species. Since 2006, the population has fallen by 30 to 50 percent.

The recent discovery in the northwest has renewed hope—particularly in areas where rivers were once considered biologically dead.

“Significant stretches of river were biologically dead in the 1980s,” said Mark Sewell, a wastewater catchment manager at United Utilities. “But today they support thriving ecosystems and are home to a number of pollution-intolerant fish species. Those species are recovering thanks to a significant environmental turnaround.”

Despite the progress, the Atlantic salmon’s return is far from guaranteed. Migration is still blocked in several key rivers due to weirs, dams, and locks. The fish are able to swim up the River Mersey and reach the Bollin and Goyt, but other rivers remain inaccessible.

In the River Tame, man-made weirs prevent upstream migration. In the River Irwell, the Mode Wheel locks at Salford Quays pose another barrier. Without intervention, salmon can’t reach the Roch, Irk, or the rivers flowing through Bolton.

“If we wanted to do something for our future generations, now is the time to build a fish pass,” said Mike Duddy of the Salford Friendly Anglers Society. “There are huge numbers of people that would love to see salmon returning to the Roch and Irk, as well as the rivers in Bolton.”

Atlantic salmon were once widespread across British rivers but declined sharply during the Industrial Revolution due to pollution and habitat destruction. They staged a comeback in the decades that followed, only to fall into crisis again in recent years.

This latest development could mark a turning point, but experts stress that continued effort is essential. Infrastructure improvements like fish passes, water quality protections, and habitat restoration will determine whether the Atlantic salmon can regain a foothold—or vanish from British rivers for good.

The Environment Agency’s 2026 study will offer a clearer picture of how far they’ve come, and how far they still have to go.

Critically Endangered Atlantic Salmon Spotted in UK Rivers for First Time in Years

When R.A. walked into the witness box to testify against the man who trafficked her as a teen, she wasn’t alone. At her feet was Kaboom, a courthouse therapy greyhound.

She had escaped her pimp at 19 and rebuilt her life, but when she came forward in 2021 with new information about his ongoing abuse of young women, she found herself thrust back into the courtroom. Testifying for seven days in December 2023, it was the first time in seven years she had seen him.

“It’s kind of grounding,” she said of Kaboom’s presence. “You have that little option to pet this dog, just reach out and know it’s there, or feel its weight on your feet.”

Kaboom is one of several dogs from Just Paws, a volunteer-run support service that brings therapy animals into schools, care homes, hospitals — and the Ottawa Courthouse.

Their mission is simple: to help calm people facing the justice system, many of whom are victims or witnesses reliving their most traumatic experiences.

The dogs sit in on meetings with prosecutors. They wait outside courtrooms. Some, like Kaboom, are certified to accompany witnesses into court as they testify — a rare privilege for a very small number of specially trained animals.

Small Team, Big Impact

Handler Sylvia Nicholson brings her labradoodle Henry to the courthouse regularly. Henry passed a rigorous three-hour test to be approved for trial work. The effect, Nicholson says, is immediate.

“Most people … start smiling as soon as they see him,” she said. “It calms people down when they’re very stressed, very nervous about testifying.”

Nicholson began volunteering after recovering from a major accident 12 years ago, where she found comfort in therapy dogs herself. Now semi-retired from her career as a vet, she sees the impact every time Henry walks into a courthouse hallway.

Youth mental health court is another key stop. Handler Marie Nadeau brings her golden retriever Alys to sit beside young people in unfamiliar court settings.

“They’re stressed. They don’t know what the judge is going to say,” Nadeau said. Alys will nudge them gently or place a paw on their knee.

“It changes the mindset the child has,” she added.

A Calming Presence in Drug Court

Just Paws also plays a role in Ottawa’s drug treatment court, where participants attend regular hearings to track their progress. Here, the dogs roam freely inside and outside the courtroom, offering companionship to those struggling with addiction.

Handler Nancy Truss has been doing this work for over 20 years. Her dog Crush, a golden retriever, is known for sticking close to people — often leaning into them or nudging for a pat. In drug court, people sometimes rest a hand on Crush while they speak to the judge.

“The biggest thing was unconditional love,” Truss said. “The dogs don’t care what you look like — they just want you to pet them and love them, and they love you right back.”

For people like Michal Judge, who’s battled addiction for years, that kind of quiet support changes the courtroom dynamic.

“It totally breaks down that feeling of heavy anxiety that the courtroom creates,” he said. “It brings everybody together, in a sense.”

Support When It’s Needed Most

The power of that connection isn’t lost on the police, either. Ottawa Const. Alistair Donaghy, who helps lead investigations, said the dogs play a key role in helping witnesses give clearer, calmer testimony.

“Any way that we can lower the stress … is key,” he said.

Handler Susan Howe, who brings her golden setter Woody, calls the service a “bridge over troubled water.”

Witnesses are not allowed to touch family or supporters while giving testimony. But patting a dog at their feet? That’s allowed — and for many, it’s just enough to help them through.

With the holidays approaching — a time when emotions in courtrooms, care homes, and hospitals can feel even heavier — the dogs and their handlers say they’re committed to staying the course.

“If you’ve put a smile on someone’s face, you’ve done your job right,” Truss said.

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