The Winter Haven-based nonprofit organization pairs victims of sexual crimes with certified service dogs. The animals are used to comfort the victim as they go through the legal process and face his or her perpetrator.

Originally, the program began with two service dogs Squiggly and Abbey. Now, the program has four service dogs with the recent additions of Gator and Duke.

Along with the new dogs, Lockhart has also welcomed two new child advocates. They are Angie Hibbard, a Realtor with Lockhart and Associates Inc., and another individual who is currently going through the training process to be certified. In addition, Kim Lockhart, Lockhart's mother, is also a child advocate.

To become a child advocate, interested individuals must attend a three-day training course with the state Attorney General's Office. The course provides basic training and developmental skills to help build relationships with victims and obtain knowledge about victim service providers. Lockhart said the course teaches a person how to work with a child victim, how to work with a victim of domestic violence and, simply, "everything you need to know to be an advocate."

After completing the course, advocates receive a 1,200-page Victim Services Practitioner Designation Training book, also known as the Victim Advocate Bible.

"We've had a lot more cases that are actually going to trial," Lockhart said. "So, we're getting known a lot better in the courthouse, with the attorneys and the judges."

Currently, Lockhart's clients range from age 18 months to adulthood, with a majority of boys and girls ranging between 8 and 13 years old.

"It's unfortunate, because that is the time where they are starting to come into their own and figure out who they are," she said.

In the past several months, a number of cases Lockhart has worked on have gone to court. In each of those cases, the perpetrator was found guilty. Lockhart said she does not want to necessarily call those cases "successes" because the important part is helping the victim. However, she did say it is rewarding to know that her program helped those victims speak up and speak out against their perpetrators.

"For me it's a very empowering thing for these kids to be able to get up in the stands and be able to testify," she said. "It's really exciting for us. I'm not saying that us being there is the reason that the guy was found guilty and it's not why I do what I do, but it's kind of nice to know the kids are able to get up there. It's very gratifying."

Since launching the FLA program, Lockhart has received positive comments about the program from Gov. Jeb Bush, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, State Attorney Jerry Hill and the Lakeland Police Department, among others. Recently, the organization received a $7,500 Build-A-Bear Foundation Grant, a $5,000 Scaife Family Foundation Grant and a Bright House Networks Airtime Grant.

"Most people, they'll take the money, cash it and move on," Kim Lockhart said, referring to the grant money. "We always thank them, tell them where it went and send them a picture of the dogs."

In addition, the Polk County Commission named July 12, 2006 as "FLA Four-Legged Advocates Inc. Day."

Andrea Lockhart has presented educational classes, prevention discussions and career day presentations at various schools, medical offices, businesses and other organizations local. She even made a presentation at a Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape Conference, which promoted her organization at a national level. As a result of her speech, Lockhart is in discussions with several national organizations to create satellite offices for the program.

"It's amazing that people are recognizing the dogs, they're recognizing our program," she said.

Lockhart has received positive feedback from people who have attended her presentations. One mother told her the presentation allowed her to have the "good touch-bad touch" talk with her children.

"It's really neat for me to know that there's a lady that I never talked to É but yet we affected her enough that she was able to go and talk to her children," she said.

In the future, Lockhart said she plans to host a fundraiser for the organization and child safety day, she will continue to promote awareness of the program.

FLA Four-Legged Advocates has a new office at 826 First St.,S. in Winter Haven. The phone number is 863-299-9115.

jennifer.whalen@newschief.com