The Zebra Child and Youth Advocacy Centre in Edmonton has welcomed a new member to its team of facility dogs, aimed at providing comfort to traumatized children. Nitro, a specially trained dog, made his debut at the centre's Ladies of the Green fundraiser on May 24, where approximately 200 supporters gathered to raise funds for the program.
Nitro Joins a Dedicated Team
Nitro joins three other buddy dogs—Captain, Moose, and Zeppelin—in helping children navigate the trauma of abuse. These dogs undergo two years of specialized training to prepare them for the responsibility of supporting young survivors. The centre's CEO, Emmy Stuebing, explained the importance of the dogs: 'Sometimes kiddos will come to the Zebra Centre and they don't want to talk to anybody, but they'll talk to a dog.'
Fundraiser Success
The Ladies of the Green fundraiser, relocated from a golf course to an office tower in downtown Edmonton, aimed to raise $100,000—enough to care for two dogs for a year. Stuebing noted that the proceeds directly support the dog program, which plays a key role in providing comfort and courage to children who have experienced abuse.
Growing Demand for Services
The Zebra Centre, which opened in 2002 as the first facility of its kind in Canada, has seen a surge in demand. In 2025, the centre assisted in 1,704 forensic interviews, provided mental health supports to 716 children, prepared kids for 397 court cases, and supported children in 281 of those cases. The buddy dog team was called 1,136 times during a record-setting year when 4,418 children sought services—almost triple the demand from a decade ago.
Reasons for Increased Demand
Stuebing attributes the rise to more people reporting abuse, noting that failing to report a child in danger is illegal in Canada. 'I think people are starting to recognize harm, they're starting to realize there is help available,' she said. The centre is also seeing growth in complex cases, such as online exploitation, where one suspect may be linked to up to 100 children.
Types of Cases Handled
The centre supports children who have experienced physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, as well as online crimes, sextortion, neglect, and being witnesses to crime. Approximately half of the cases involve sexual abuse. Stuebing emphasized that children often know their abusers, and modern challenges like social media and artificial intelligence amplify these issues.
How to Help
Those wishing to support the Zebra Centre can donate new toys, clothing, or items for children aged 3 to 18. Cash donations are also welcome. The centre operates with 25 dedicated staff and 110 volunteers, all working to help young survivors heal.
