NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 18, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT: Chelsie Hollencamp
218-726-2323 or hollencampc@stlouiscountymn.gov
St. Louis County Attorney’s Office Welcomes Yonkers, Minnesota’s Eighth Courthouse Facility Dog
DULUTH, Minn. — The St. Louis County Attorney’s Office today formally introduced Yonkers, a professionally trained courthouse facility dog who will support victims and witnesses as they participate in the justice process.
According to the Courthouse Dogs Foundation, Yonkers becomes the eighth courthouse facility dog in Minnesota. The Foundation’s national directory currently identifies seven other courthouse facility dog programs in Minnesota, including dogs working with county attorney’s offices, law enforcement, and a child-focused medical program.
Yonkers, a Labrador retriever trained through Minnesota-based nonprofit Can Do Canines, joined the Office in May. He works alongside his primary handler, Assistant St. Louis County Attorney Jackie Primeau, and secondary handler George Olson, St. Louis County Attorney’s Office Victim/Witness Services Coordinator.
“Victims and witnesses can be asked to do incredibly difficult things as part of the justice process,” St. Louis County Attorney Kim Maki said. “We cannot remove those responsibilities from the justice process, but we can look for appropriate ways to support people as they move through it.”
Supporting the Person Without Changing the Process
Yonkers can provide a calm, steady presence during victim and witness meetings, preparation for court, victim impact statements, and other appropriate parts of the justice process. He has already worked with victims and witnesses and participated in court proceedings while continuing to train and acclimate to the courthouse environment.
The Office emphasized that Yonkers’ role is supportive and does not change the legal process.
“Yonkers is here to support people. He is not here to influence the outcome of a case,” Maki said. “His presence does not tell us whether someone is truthful or credible, and it does not change anyone’s legal rights.”
“Yonkers supports the person without changing the process.”
Use of Yonkers is individualized. Some people may not want to interact with a dog because of allergies, fear, personal preference or other reasons, and those preferences will be respected. Any use during court proceedings is also subject to the circumstances of the individual case, applicable legal procedures, and the authority of the court.
Professionally Trained for the Work
Primeau first became familiar with courthouse facility dogs while working as a judicial law clerk in Stearns County, where she observed Nova, a facility dog working with the Stearns County Attorney’s Office. After joining the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office, Primeau began exploring whether a similar program could be established locally.
The Office applied to Can Do Canines in March 2025. After completing the application and placement process, Primeau was matched with Yonkers and brought him home in May 2026.
Can Do Canines is accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI). Courthouse Dogs Foundation standards call for courthouse facility dogs to graduate from ADI-accredited assistance dog organizations and work with trained professionals in the legal system.
Yonkers received extensive professional training before being matched with Primeau. The pair continued training together and completed their team skills certification in August. Yonkers knows approximately 60 commands. Much of his courthouse work is intentionally unobtrusive: settling quietly beneath a table, remaining in position for extended periods, ignoring activity around him, and waiting for his handler’s permission before interacting with another person.
“A lot of what makes him really good as a facility dog doesn’t look all that exciting,” Primeau said. “He needs to be this calm, consistent presence.”
Yonkers has also been training in St. Louis County courtrooms, where Primeau and other staff have helped familiarize him with witness areas, counsel tables, microphones, movement, and other sounds and activity he may encounter.
When his working cape comes off, however, Primeau says Yonkers becomes a much more typical Labrador. “My fiancé calls it Clark Kent and Superman,” Primeau said. “When his cape goes on, his training kicks in and he knows that he’s working.”
Office Announces Four Ballistic Vests for Law-Enforcement K-9s
The County Attorney’s Office also announced Friday that, in celebration of Yonkers’ arrival and in recognition of the contribution of working dogs to public safety in our region, it will provide funding for four ballistic protective vests for law-enforcement K-9 teams serving communities across St. Louis County. Two vests will support St. Louis County Sheriff K-9 teams—one serving the northern part of the county and one serving the southern part of the county—with an additional vest each for K-9 teams from the Duluth Police Department and the Virginia Police Department.
The initiative was proposed by retired Assistant County Attorney Vern Swanum and current Assistant County Attorney Vicky Wanta, who recognized the contributions law-enforcement K-9 teams make to public safety throughout the region.
Law-enforcement K-9s perform a distinctly different role from Yonkers and may work alongside their handlers in circumstances that place them in dangerous environments. The ballistic vests are intended to provide additional protection while they perform that work.
Funding for the vests will come from eligible forfeiture proceeds administered by the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office.
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