Jerri Rook and Ludo. PHOTO PROVIDED

When they cast their ballots earlier this month, Lycoming County voters were asked if they wanted to retain President Judge Nancy Butts, but what they didn’t realize was that the Court House dog, Ludo, would be collateral damage of their no votes.

As of Jan. 2, Ludo’s handler, Jerri Rook, who is Butts’ executive assistant will be out of a job and so will Ludo.

Ludo has been on duty since 2022, replacing the original Court House canine Jedi, who passed away from lymphoma.

The program was initially started by Judge Joy McCoy and Rook said that she also worked “very hard to get the program started and make it work.”

“So, I believe the program is mine,” she said.

The dog is given to the county’s program by Canine Companions and is owned by them along with Rook. The county does not have any ownership in the dog, Rook noted.

“The county commissioners have not been involved in our pursuit of the program or the running of the program,” Rook said.

When the program started, Mark Egly had been employed by Children and Youth to handle finances and he added the canine program into their needs-based budget to help pay expenses. That has continued even though Egly has since retired.

But now, the issue is not the funding, it is that Rook’s job will be gone because Butts will be gone and consequently so will Ludo.

“Another judge won;t be elected for two years so I have no judge to work for,” Rook said.

“While the county says my position is not eliminated, they will not allow me to stay in my current position because there is not a fifth judge even though I am the senior judicial secretary and have the most experience with all aspects of the law,” she stated.

In September, the county commissioners issued a proclamation praising the Courthouse Dog Program and the role that the dogs have played in providing emotional support to victims of violent and sexual crimes, particularly involving children. Ludo also visits schools and the Pre-Release Center.

Canine Companions has the right to take Ludo back if he is not working, Rook explained.

“He is still of young working age and if he can be placed elsewhere working, they will take him back,” Rook said.

“I think I have six weeks to find a position where he is doing the same or similar work. It would be extremely hard on him to take him from his work and his home,” she added.

The county and the courts could start a new program with another dog and handler, but Rook said that would be starting from the bottom.

“I am not going to let them get rid of me yet,” she said.

She indicated that she has “some irons in the fire,” but doesn’t know if she can speak to them yet.

“There were two positions with courts that were offered to me but (they) don’t work for me and my work with Ludo,” she said.

It is also unknown if the commissioners would allow those positions to be filled as the county is currently in a hiring freeze.

So, come January, the courthouse dog program will disappear, unless a solution can be found.

“I’m not sure at this point if there is anything anyone can do,” Rook said.

“The county seems to have made up their mind that they are not going to keep me. Funding is really not an issue. I would pay whatever to keep him,” Rook said.

“I don’t want that to happen so I’m working on some things. However, if they don’t pan out, Lycoming County will no longer have the program with Ludo,” she added.