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State honors dog therapy program that helps domestic violence victims | TribLIVE.com
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State honors dog therapy program that helps domestic violence victims

Karen Kadilak Karen Kadilak
Karen Kadilak Karen Kadilak
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Submitted
Cheri Herschell and Ari.
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Denise and Leon Strimel
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Melissa DeStefano
Scythe Ho shows his book to a Rosie, a Shih Tzu therapy dog, at the Murrysville Community Library.
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Melissa DeStefano
Scythe Ho reads to Cooper, a standard poodle therapy dog, during Murrysville Community Library’s Dog Reading Pals program.
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Dan Speicher | Tribune-Review
Stacey Sweeney (left), of manor, sits with her dog Zoe, while Cheyenne Shank, 6, and her mom Jamilyn, of Penn Township, read 'Frozen', during the Dogs and Tales program, at the Penn Area Library, in Harrison City, on Wednesday, March 15, 2017.
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Dan Speicher | Tribune-Review
Sophia Larry, 4, of Jeannette, works on her reading by spelling the dogs name Rudy, during the Dogs and Tales program, at the Penn Area Library, in Harrison City, on Wednesday, March 15, 2017. The program helps children develop their reading skills, by having them read to a happy canine audience, free from judgement.
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Dan Speicher | Tribune-Review
Cheyenne Shank (left), 6, and her mom Jamilyn, of Penn Township, read 'Frozen', to Zoe the dog, during the Dogs and Tales program, at the Penn Area Library, in Harrison City, on Wednesday, March 15, 2017. The program helps children develop their reading skills, by having them read to a happy canine audience, free from judgement.
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Dan Speicher | Tribune-Review
Caitlin Dolhi, 5, of Harrison City, searches the page of 'Scooby Doo' for hidden pictures, during the Dogs and Tales program, at the Penn Area Library on March 15, 2017. The program is one of several that helped the library earn 'Gold Star' status from the Pennsylvania Library Association.
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Christian Tyler Randolph | Tribune-Review
Mr. Darcy is petted by students after working through a reading activity during the BARK, Bettering All Readers through K-9s, at Sloan Elementary in Murrysville, Pa. on Thursday March 16, 2017.
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Christian Tyler Randolph | Tribune-Review
Mr. Darcy, bottom right, joins an activity table of color during the BARK, Bettering All Readers through K-9s, at Sloan Elementary in Murrysville, Pa. on Thursday March 16, 2017.
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Christian Tyler Randolph | Tribune-Review
Kylie Blatnick, left, and Isabella Love, center decide which bowl to put a word in during a reading activity with Manhattan, right, during the BARK, Bettering All Readers through K-9s, at Sloan Elementary in Murrysville, Pa. on Thursday March 16, 2017.
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Christian Tyler Randolph | Tribune-Review
First graders Jaz Martino, left, and Max Luzader discuss a book in a reading group with the small dog Holly during the BARK, Bettering All Readers through K-9s, at Sloan Elementary in Murrysville, Pa. on Thursday March 16, 2017.
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Christian Tyler Randolph | Tribune-Review
Holly, a reading therapy dog, rolls into a word activity game during the BARK, Bettering All Readers through K-9s, at Sloan Elementary in Murrysville, Pa. on Thursday March 16, 2017.
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Christian Tyler Randolph | Tribune-Review
Mr. Darcy is petted by students after working through a reading activity during the BARK, Bettering All Readers through K-9s, at Sloan Elementary in Murrysville, Pa. on Thursday March 16, 2017.
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A program that uses dogs to help domestic violence victims from northern and western Allegheny County and an employee of the nonprofit that runs it were honored recently by the state.

The Crisis Center North's Victim Assistance Canine Program and Leon Strimel received 2017 Governor's Victim Service Pathfinder awards from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. The awards were presented May 9 at a conference in Hershey.

The award is the most prestigious Pennsylvania gives to a victim service professional or program, the PCCD website said.

The Victim Assistance Canine Program earned the program award. The program, which the center has renamed Paws for Empowerment, provides counseling and courtroom accompaniment services.

It has one dog, nine-year-old Penny, and another being trained, Ari, 10 months, whose jobs are to calm victims. Both were at the awards ceremony.

Strimel, the center's lead prevention educator, was presented with the prevention, education and outreach award. He was one of five individuals honored.

A retired guidance counselor, Strimel, 65, of Canonsburg said he does about 400 presentations a year, reaching thousands of kids.

Crisis Center North executive director Grace Coleman said she has heard students share stories of how Strimel has made an impact on their lives and school culture.

“Leon has the unique ability to truly inspire the students he works with,” she said.

Strimel said the magnitude of the award hit him when he entered the room.

“(It) was completely packed,” he said.

Coleman said the awards are a tremendous honor for her organization, which started in 1978 as the North Hills Women's Center.

“Both the prevention education program and our canine program have, in many ways, rallied the community around the issue of domestic violence,” she said.

Canine program committee member Michael Brayack said the center was incredibly honored to receive two Pathfinder awards in one year.

Karen Kadilak is a Tribune-Review contributor.