By Mike Holley
Chief Criminal Investigator in Kaufman County
Every once in a while, someone enters your life and leaves a mark on it forever. Almost 10 years ago, I had such an encounter with a 3-year-old named Donne. This youngster was full of energy, overflowing with personality, extremely intelligent, and capable of communicating fluently in multiple languages. It just so happened he also had four legs.
Donne was a Patriot Paws golden retriever: a fully accredited service dog trained to be paired with a disabled veteran. But destiny had other plans for this amazing creature, as he instead spent the remaining nine and a half years of his life comforting victims of child abuse and becoming a legendary member of the District Attorney’s Office in Kaufman County. Thanks to Patriot Paws’s willingness to offer his reassignment and the forward-thinking leadership of Criminal District Attorney Erleigh Wiley to venture into uncharted territory, this article is filled with the story—and the legacy—of a truly remarkable dog.
What follows is not merely another feel-good story about a boy (well, me) and his canine. After all, legacy is not about preserving memory, but about shaping the future. What better legacy could Donne have left than to inspire more prosecutor offices to consider partnering with a certified facility dog? There have been other informative articles in The Texas Prosecutor journal about service and therapy dogs in Texas courthouses,[1] but the spirit of this writing is to highlight the pros and cons of taking on a certified facility dog in your own office. I hope you will bear with me as I sprinkle in some of my favorite memories of the best of all coworkers, Donne the DA Dog.
How Donne found his fur-ever calling
For those unfamiliar with Patriot Paws,[2] this amazing organization based in Rockwall provides disabled veterans with fully accredited service dogs free of charge. It has also expanded its service to include dogs for first responders and other public service disciplines.
Donne, short for Donnetello Di Domani (“gift of tomorrow” or “tomorrow’s gift”), was named by the Spaghetti Ladies, or “sauce ladies,” after they donated him to Patriot Paws. Donne Di Domani[3] (“Women of Tomorrow”) is a group of Houston-based Italian-American women famous for their handmade, charity-driven marinara sauce. Since 1985, they have raised more than $2 million for local charities throughout the Harris County area. The best part about Donne’s name was the fact that everyone thought I routinely misspelled it. Pronounced “don-ee,” my peers insisted upon the “Donny” spelling, but I made it my mission to honor the Spaghetti Sauce ladies and correctly spell his registered name.
When Patriot Paws reached out to our office 10 years ago about Donne, authorities there explained that he was highly trained and capable of responding to more than 60 verbal and nonverbal commands. They also noted that he had experienced a slight complication during his evaluation period, one that ultimately disqualified him from being a suitable partner for an individual with a disability. Throughout his three years of Patriot Paws “boot camp,” it was discovered that Donne was a lover, not a fighter. In fact, the dog was literally afraid of his own shadow. Storms, construction equipment, trains, buses, fireworks, and even scary movies could trigger intense stress for this 100-pound canine. Neither the Texas A&M University bus system nor the yards of Texas prisons proved effective in helping him conquer his fears. For context, it may be noteworthy to mention the fact that I was a Child Abuse & Special Victims detective in my previous career. During that decade, I routinely encountered another four-legged rock star named Roper at the Dallas County Criminal District Attorney’s Office. Roper, also a Patriot Paws golden retriever, paved the way for Donne’s introduction to our office. Roper’s handler, Thad LaBarre (former Dallas County DA Investigator and currently the Deputy Chief Investigator in the Rockwall County District Attorney’s Office) became a valuable resource and trusted friend throughout my training to handle Donne.
Facility dogs are not ordinary pets. They are highly trained service animals that typically complete two years or more of structured training through accredited programs. Unlike therapy dogs, which provide general emotional support in various settings, facility dogs are specifically trained to work in professional environments such as courthouses, hospitals, and schools.
These dogs are conditioned to remain calm and unobtrusive in high-stress situations. They are trained to:
• remain still and quiet for extended periods,
• respond to subtle cues from their handler,
• ignore loud noises, emotional outbursts, or sudden movements, and
• provide comfort through gentle physical contact, such as resting their head on a victim’s lap.
Recognizing the need to re-evaluate Donne’s career path, Patriot Paws reassigned him to a facility dog position. That decision ultimately resulted in countless domestic violence and child abuse victims in Kaufman County finding comfort in his presence.
After Roper’s successful service to the Dallas office, we were excited to receive an offer to partner with Patriot Paws. Judge Erleigh Wiley, our elected DA, fully embraced the opportunity to better serve victims of child abuse, so a meeting was quickly scheduled to identify who would be a suitable partner for Donne. I am forever indebted to my boss for choosing me.
Training to become Donne’s partner
The following three months required me, as Donne’s partner, to demonstrate that I could properly administer commands and proficiently assert myself as his partner. This amazing animal had a three-year head start on me, and I quickly learned that I was actually the one being evaluated during the training process, not the dog.
After a week of on-site orientation training at the Patriot Paws campus, the next phase proved even more challenging. An instructor closely monitored my ability to administer proper commands and ensure Donne’s compliance through grocery store aisles, department store toy sections, and pet stores loaded up with every distraction imaginable. Each time I failed to deliver the correct verbal command or nonverbal cue, I heard the evaluator’s “clicker” and knew I would face the test again. I later learned that the clicking sound came from a small device that kept a running tally of my mistakes, and by the end of each training day, the disappointing numbers spoke for themselves.
Donne and I had a list of 65 behavioral cues we were required to master to maintain annual certification through Assistance Dogs International (ADI).[4] Donne was expected to perform each of the behaviors at either a visual or verbal cue. Doing the math means that Donne and I both had to be proficient at performing 65 cues on a moment’s notice. As you might imagine, not all of these commands were executed with polished perfection every time. After a few remedial loops in training, I did finally pass the rigorous evaluation period and earn the right to be officially recognized as Donne’s handler. I would soon discover the importance of routine training, as the development of muscle memory in both animal and human results only from a disciplined commitment to putting in the work.
One of the most entertaining cues was “What’s up?,” which could also be executed in Spanish as “¿Qué pasa?” Donne would faithfully respond to this cue with a head nod—as long as he believed he would be rewarded. This was definitely our most overutilized command, as it was always a crowd pleaser—but Donald, as he was affectionately known at the office, would inevitably lose his motivation to comply when he knew his handler was fresh out of treats. Occasionally he would pop into my office and initiate the cue unprompted, clearly attempting to guilt me into sharing my cheeseburger.
Speaking of food, it was extremely difficult to resist the temptation to share a few bites of whatever he expressed an interest in, but this proved to be one of many lessons in carefully evaluating the responsibility of properly caring for a facility dog. We soon discovered that Donne suffered from an extremely sensitive stomach, so we placed him on an even stricter diet than his original training regimen. Unfortunately, controlling humans proved far more difficult than controlling him. At least weekly, and often daily, staff members would leave food unattended on their desks or toss partially eaten leftovers in their trash cans. Sweet little Donne soon became a professional thief and dumpster diver. Mix a half-eaten plate of spaghetti with an evening thunderstorm, and Donne (and his handler) were in for a long night of emergency potty trips.
Donne’s fear of thunderstorms was once on full display during a Denton County Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) retreat. I had barely reached slide two of my presentation when lightning struck outside. Donne bolted out the back door of the training facility and did not stop running for the next 30 minutes, as I chased him (with the assistance of several class members) in the rain while wearing my best suit.
Although I would describe Donne as the perfect partner, we did experience some growing pains in getting to the office in the mornings and planning daily trips outdoors. As you might imagine, Mr. Popular had a warm greeting for everyone he encountered, so I learned to plan for delays to have any chance at being on time to my destination. Factor in occasional weather complications and upset doggy tummies, and some days proved to be quite a challenge. On a typical morning, I would release Donne from his leash and allow him to greet the staff before starting the day. If he had a scheduled appointment or acted in his official capacity, he was fully uniformed in his vest and halter attached to a leash. Interestingly, Patriot Paws service dogs are not trained to be controlled by a traditional leash tethered to a neck collar. A gentle leader, similar to a horse halter, is used as a much more appropriate alternative.
Providing comfort to survivors of all ages
Although the vast majority of individuals Donne served were children, I will never forget the game-changing moments when he stepped up for adults in ways none of us saw coming.
The most notable occurred during a delayed outcry sexual abuse trial about seven years ago. Three young men in their mid-20s were preparing to face their childhood baseball coach when they took the stand. Each of them had been sexually abused by this man during their adolescent years and had not seen him since that painful chapter of their lives.
All three young men were in excellent physical condition and towered over the now-aging defendant seated in the courtroom. Two of the victims had served in the military, and one was an active F-18 pilot in the United States Navy.
Despite their strength and accomplishments, all three victims were absolutely terrified to face their abuser on the first day of trial—until they met Donne in the hallway. Donald approached the three men with a strut that could humble a Marine Corps gunnery sergeant. With a tennis ball in his mouth covered in extra drool, this cocky canine introduced himself—and changed everything.
When they had finished throwing the ball down the hall to the rock-star retriever, something remarkable happened. All three victims entered the courtroom with complete confidence. Every ounce of anxiety had evaporated in the presence of the wagging tail of an energetic dog. The young men’s testimony sent a dangerous perpetrator away to prison with a life sentence, and their journey to complete healing began, all thanks to a simple game of catch with a dog. Despite we humans’ best efforts to prepare victims and witnesses for testimony, there are some things only a golden retriever seems to possess the superpowers to accomplish.
The role of facility dogs in supporting crime victims
Now that you have heard about Donne—the man, the myth, the legend—you may be wondering what benefits a facility dog like him can provide to your own office. As we all know, the criminal justice system can be an intimidating and emotionally taxing environment for victims of crime. From recounting traumatic experiences to testifying in court, victims are often required to revisit painful memories while navigating an unfamiliar and formal process. Not surprisingly, these circumstances frequently produce overwhelming stress and anxiety.
In recent years, prosecutor offices across the United States have adopted an innovative and compassionate approach to alleviate this burden: the use of facility dogs. These specially trained canines provide emotional support and comfort to victims, helping them navigate the legal process with greater confidence and resilience.
The integration of facility dogs into prosecutor offices represents a powerful blend of compassion and practicality. By addressing the emotional needs of crime victims, these programs not only promote healing but also strengthen the pursuit of justice. As awareness grows and more jurisdictions adopt facility dogs, the legal system continues moving toward a model that values both truth and humanity.
Facility dogs may assist victims and witnesses at several stages of the legal process:
• pre-trial meetings: Victims often meet with prosecutors and victim advocates multiple times before trial. A facility dog can be present during these meetings, offering comfort as victims prepare to recount traumatic events.
• courtroom testimony: In many jurisdictions, facility dogs are allowed to accompany victims while they testify. Positioned discreetly at the witness stand, the dog provides silent reassurance without distracting from the proceedings.
• waiting areas: Court schedules can involve extended waiting periods, which can heighten anxiety. A facility dog can help victims remain calm during these intervals.
• support for children: Child victims can benefit immensely from the presence of a facility dog. A friendly, nonjudgmental animal can mean the difference between a child shutting down and being able to share critical details.
Programs across the country have reported several measurable and anecdotal benefits associated with facility dog programs:
• reduced anxiety: Victims frequently report feeling calmer and more secure when accompanied by a facility dog.
• improved testimony: Emotional stability can lead to clearer, more accurate testimony.
• enhanced cooperation: Victims may be more willing to participate in the legal process when they know support is available.
• positive public perception: Facility dog programs demonstrate a commitment to compassionate justice, strengthening community trust in the legal system.
Legal considerations
The use of facility dogs in courtrooms sometimes raises legal questions. Defense attorneys occasionally argue that the presence of a dog could prejudice a jury by creating sympathy for the victim.
To address these concerns, courts typically implement safeguards such as:
• informing jurors that the dog serves as a neutral support tool,
• positioning the dog outside the jury’s direct line of sight, or
• ensuring the dog does not interact with jurors or other courtroom participants.
These measures help balance the emotional needs of victims with the defendant’s right to a fair trial.
To avoid any risk of having a conviction overturned on appeal, our office chose to keep Donne out of the courtroom itself. Although Texas Government Code §21.012[5] authorizes the use of a facility dog to accompany a victim or witness during testimony, appellate attorneys may be of the opinion that the risk outweighs the reward. However, he never failed to comfort victims and witnesses in an indescribable way, albeit outside the presence of judge and jury.
Accreditation and professional standards
Accreditation is key to being internationally recognized as a legitimate assistance dog. Assistance Dogs International (ADI) is widely recognized as the global authority in this field. ADI is a worldwide coalition of not-for-profit organizations that train and place assistance dogs. Founded in 1986 from a group of seven smaller organizations, ADI has become the leading authority in the assistance dog industry.
Organizations accredited by ADI must meet rigorous standards for breeding, training, placement, and ongoing evaluation of assistance dogs. A summary of these standards can be found at assistancedogsinternational.org. Earning the right to place an ADI patch on the vest of a service or facility dog is no easy task.
I, for one, still stand at attention every time I hear a clicking noise, after training with Donne for three months in public spaces. As earlier stated, my evaluator walked behind me through parking lots, city parks, and other highly populated areas, monitoring our every move. As she attempted to create every distraction imaginable for a dog, she would activate her clicker each time I failed to administer the proper command to Donne or demonstrated an inability to ensure his obedience. If you want a true challenge, try the sound of a drill sergeant’s clicker in your ear while attempting to control a 100-pound golden retriever laser focused on a package of bacon on the floor of aisle seven at HEB!
Some “ruff” math
Now that you have heard a few of the many benefits of a service dog, and after an appeal to your emotions has been launched, let us shift the focus of this article to practical considerations: the cost-benefit analysis of adding a facility dog to your office.
Here’s some “ruff” math. A 40-pound bag of veterinarian-recommended dog food is likely to cost between $70 and $100. Feeding two cups per day, a bag of kibble will last approximately 80 days. This basic diet is recommended to be supplemented with a modest mixture of healthy treats, such as cubed cheese, frozen vegetables, or diced chicken breast.
Bonafide service and facility dogs are often trained to be fed only by hand. This practice ensures proper rationing, creates a closer relationship between the dog and the handler, rewards obedience to commands, and reduces the risk of gastrointestinal illnesses associated with traditional bowl feeding. Obviously, this type of care is labor-intensive and demands full commitment from the individual paired with the dog.
Additionally, the assigned handler must maintain a disciplined focus on routine training, grooming, veterinary instructions, and the overall physical care of the animal. Donne’s grooming was offered at a discounted rate, but it is no secret that a monthly bath and trim for a hundred-pound long-haired dog can easily cost $150.
Veterinary care is a completely different animal. Routine preventative care appointments and required medications can be extremely expensive, but occasional injuries or illnesses are completely unpredictable and can break the bank. Fortunately, a local veterinary doctor generously donated Donne’s medical care, as well as his medications. Our appreciation for that kind gesture reached an all-time high the day Donald decided to consume his favorite stuffed teddy bear!
Considering his pedigree and years of training, Donne’s monetary value was estimated to be $35,000. Any claim regarding harm to Donne, or harm Donne might have caused to property or an individual, would likely have been evaluated through the Texas Association of Counties Risk Management Pool.[6] Additional insurance coverage would ultimately be at the discretion of the elected official. The time, financial investment, and level of responsibility associated with this commitment should be thoroughly assessed when determining whether the use of a facility dog program would be the right fit for your office.
Additional practical considerations include the acquisition of a properly equipped vehicle, as well as the selection of a canine handler best suited for the task. The vehicle must be capable of running at an idle with a controlled climate while remaining secured and unattended for extended periods of time. The handler, meanwhile, should be genuinely passionate about the assignment, possess the right temperament, and be entrusted with a flexible schedule capable of meeting the needs of the animal.
So, what is the alternative? If financial or personnel constraints prevent an office from implementing a full-time facility dog program, is it possible to periodically enjoy the benefits of a canine visit without all the long-term strings attached? The answer is a resounding yes, absolutely. There are many vendors throughout the state that offer therapy or comfort dog appointments to supplement victim services. Your office may consider additional options, such as equine therapy or even goat yoga (yes, it’s a real thing).
However, if the program proves to be a good fit after careful evaluation, it is impossible to place a true monetary value on the impact of a facility dog. It is simply no exaggeration to say: Donne was worth his weight in gold.
Donne’s lasting impact
Despite the challenges associated with proper training and care, the value of the facility dog to our office was immeasurable. Donne’s daily presence made a genuine, lasting, positive impact on our culture. This remarkable animal had an un- canny ability to instinctively seek out those who were experiencing an excessive amount of stress, and he did so on a routine basis. If you were having a bad day, it was just a matter of time before Donald would enter the room and rest his head on your lap.
Donne became our team mascot, and everyone in the community was at least acquainted with the local rock star. Our office received constant requests for Donne memorabilia—what we affectionately referred to as “Donne bling.” The dog even had his own trading cards, dog-shaped squishy balls, and children’s coloring books which walked child victims through the court process in an age-appropriate manner.
After losing Donne to cancer in August 2025, our office filtered through countless cards, drawings, treats, and even birthday gifts that victims had given him over the years. Similar gifts and expressions of appreciation also arrived from citizens in the community who had become acquainted with Donne through engagement at public events. Recruitment initiatives, Citizens Academy classes, National Night Out gatherings, nonprofit fundraisers, presentations to private groups, and visits to nursing homes and children’s shelters are just a few examples of the many events where Donne the DA Dog impacted the lives of citizens outside the courthouse.
In an effort to further assist offices considering the addition of a facility dog to their team, I asked a few members of our staff to share their memories of Donne and reflect on the impact he had on our office:
Erleigh Wiley
Criminal District Attorney
Donne had an extraordinary sense of purpose. Somehow, he understood the difference between work and play. When Mike (his handler and the author of this article) occasionally left him with me overnight, he was just like any other dog once his vest came off—running, playing, and sometimes ignoring commands. But in the morning, when you said, “Let’s go to work,” he patiently let you put his vest back on and step into his role.
At the office, Donne seemed to instinctively know what to do, especially with child victims who needed comfort. Most days, though, he spent his time with the rest of us—the staff who do this difficult work. He would quietly poke his head into our offices, not always coming in, but somehow sensing when someone needed a lift.
The work we do can be heavy, and Donne understood that in his own way. He served victims, but he also served us. In an office where, like any workplace, there can be differences, Donne was a unifying presence—beloved by everyone who had the privilege of working alongside him.
Sabrina Mumaw
Intake paralegal
Donne was all about helping the hearts of the most vulnerable—children—and he didn’t even know it. Children scared to come in and meet us, having to talk about what had happened to them, were always calmed by his presence. Whether he was taken to the lobby to greet an apprehensive child or brought into the conference room while a kiddo told his story, Donne’s presence was a game changer. There were times where a child didn’t want to talk, when they crawled under the conference room table, in fact, but when we brought in Donne, that was all the emotional support they needed to use their voices.
After his passing, a child asked about Donne, and I replied simply that “he got sick and can’t be here,” not wanting to tell the kiddo that he had died. Then that little voice asked, “Is he with Jesus?” And somehow without crying I said, “Yes, he is.” The child replied, “My grandmother will take care of him. He’s probably chasing that blue ball he likes.” Goodness, what do you say to that?!
Donne’s love helped heal hearts. When I think of him, I see him running and chasing all kinds of things, especially his blue ball.
Jessica Blaine
Receptionist
I could go on and on about our sweet Donne boy. I’m very much a big dog person so it was so easy for me to love Donne right off the bat. He personally helped me through a really rough transition in my personal life and at work. My husband and I were going through some medical treatments and I had just got promoted to a very busy role in our office, and a lot of days it felt very overwhelming. One thing I could always count on to be a good constant during my workday was Donne laying by my desk. If I had to go to the file room, he was there until I was finished with my tasks, and it made me smile every time I looked behind me and there he was. After Donne’s passing it was rough for me. I expected to trip over him when getting up from my chair, I expected his begging for treats and I expected his sweet, stinky smile every morning greeting me. I worked with Donne for only five years and he was for sure the best part of those five years.
Conclusion
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the personal impact Donne made on my life. He was by my side during the painful experiences of divorce, the death of my parents, and the loss of several close friends and family members. He also made his permanent mark on both of my daughters; they would often ask him to “blink twice if you are a teenage boy trapped in a dog’s body!”
Even after the tennis balls stopped bouncing down the office hallways, Donne’s legacy continues to shape how we serve victims. For our office, he was never just a program or an initiative. He was a teammate, comforter, and reminder that empathy is an essential part of the justice system. His paw prints remain on the floors of our courthouse and in the lives of the countless people he helped along the way. Donne showed us all that sometimes, the most powerful form of support requires no words at all.
[1] See, for example: Katherine Nolden’s “A Texas paw-secutor,” July–August 2017 issue, www.tdcaa.com/ journal/a-texas-paw-secutor; Jalayne Robinson’s “Four-legged friends can be victim witness assistants too,” July–August 2014 issue, www.tdcaa.com/journal/four-legged-friends-can-be-victim-witness-assistants-too; and Jennifer Varela’s “Paw and order,” May–June 2010 issue, www.tdcaa.com/journal/paw-and-order.
[2] www.patriotpaws.org.
[3] Learn how to buy some delicious pasta sauce for a great cause here: https://donne-di-domani.square.site.
[4] www.helpingpaws.org/assistance-dogs-international-adi
[5] See also Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 38.074 and Lambeth v. State, 523 S.W.3d 244 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2017, no pet.) (allowing service dog while witness testified)
[6] www.county.org/member-services/risk-management/overview.