The police dog who comforted 'House of Horrors' children at parents' sentencing
The traumatised Turpin children were comforted in court by a therapy dog as they spoke about taking their life back and their reoccurring nightmares after escaping their parents’ so-called ‘House of Horrors’.
As the siblings appeared in court on Friday to witness their parents David Turpin, 57 and Louise, 50, being sentenced to life in prison, K9 Raider the yellow Labrador sat quietly next to them.
Raider has provided comfort to the 13 Turpin children over the past year since they escaped their squalid Californian home as they navigated courthouses, prosecutors’ offices and other legal settings.
The children welcomed Raider “with open arms”, according to the K9’s dedicated Facebook page.
“They treated me with such love and affection every time we met,” a post on the police dog’s Facebook page, following the sentencing, read.
“I wish them all strength and wellness and hope to visit with them again someday.”
The three-year-old Labrador is a facility dog with the Corona Police Department.
He is highly trained and knows 40 commands to provide companionship without being a disruption.
Raider has his own Facebook and Instagram pages.
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Handler Sergeant Adam Roulston told KTLA5 news one of the Turpin children asked police to allow the animal to be with them on Friday during their parents’ sentencing hearing at the Riverside County Superior Court.
With the Labrador sitting quietly by their side, the children took turns petting him.
He also reportedly sat still beside the eldest two children who testified about how they suffered at the hands of their parents.
His handlers expressed their gratitude in working with a “forward thinking team of advocates, investigators, and prosecutors” who they said welcomed the idea of using a facility dog for the first time ever in Riverside County, they added on Facebook.
“When we see him bring a smile to someone’s face or even just touching him, we know that they are getting emotions out that maybe a human wouldn’t be able to do,” Sergeant Adam Roulston told KTLA5.
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