WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — On Hanover Street in Wilkes-Barre is a house filled with evidence of playtime.
This is the luzerne county child advocacy center, and while this looks like a place where children can make new friends, the reason they come here isn't so friendly.
"So this is the place where children come that once they disclose child abuse, they come to our center, and then we have forensic interviewers who sit and talk to them about what happened. And then we have medical exams to make sure they're healthy. We can collect forensic evidence if we need to, to help, to basically help prosecutors or to help make an arrest if need be. We also have mental health services and referrals so that these children can also do therapy as well," said Shannon Peduto, Executive Director.
Sitting with the Center's CEO Shannon Peduto is K9 Spike.
Spike is a member of the Internet Crimes Against Children task force and sometimes a therapy dog for children.
More recently, he's become a model for a new fundraiser hosted by the Luzerne County District Attorney's Office.
The slogan for the campaign? "Predators are our Prey."
"I actually saw it on another challenge coin, and I liked it so much, and I felt it fit what we do with the ICAC, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force that we have that's who we're primarily going after predators, child predators," said Det. Neil Murphy, Luzerne County District Attorney's Office.
They're using Spike's image for different clothing items and challenge coins and it's all to help children in need.
"Every dollar that we get for fundraisers goes directly back to services for children. So we serve over 500 children every year, we are going to be serving over 6000 children since we've opened our doors, and nothing has ever gone to child or family for expenses," notes Peduto.
Orders for clothes and challenge coins close on November 30th and can be made by CLICKING HERE.
