JOLIET, Ill. — Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announces that Hannah Boyer of Minooka Intermediate School was the winner of the contest to name the shelter dog adopted by the Will County Drug Court to live in its Miller Taylor House recovery home.
Hannah, who is 11-years-old and loves dogs, was one of several students from the more than 120 who entered the contest who felt Millie would be the best name for the friendly female dog that was adopted earlier this year from Joliet Township Animal Control’s shelter. Hannah’s name was drawn from a hat that contained slips for all of the entries suggesting the name Millie.
Joliet Elks Lodge #296 partnered with the Will County Drug Court and the State’s Attorney’s Office to sponsor the contest that gave local students a chance to name the dog. As the winner, Hannah received $50 and a dinner for her entire family at the Elks Lodge in Joliet.
She also dropped by the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office last week with her parents to meet Millie for the first time and to pose for pictures with State’s Attorney Glasgow and Jeff Sterr, the Joliet Elks’ President. Millie was happy to receive a goody bag filled with doggie treats and doggie toys that Hannah brought as a gift to her.
“Millie is the perfect name for our dog and a great way to honor Miller Taylor, who is the namesake of our recovery house,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “More importantly, Millie is a happy and friendly name that captures this wonderful dog’s kind and joyful spirit. Thank you, Hannah, for helping us choose the best name possible. And thank you to the Joliet Elks for their tireless efforts to educate children about the dangers of using drugs.”
The State’s Attorney continued: “Millie’s life started out hard, but it has a happy ending. She was abandoned and left chained to a dumpster before she was rescued and then adopted from the Joliet Township Animal Control. She is the perfect pet and mascot to truly make our recovery house a home.”
Miller Taylor was one of the Will County Drug Court’s first graduates. He not only turned his own life around, but he continues to help others who are working their way through the program.
“Miller has taught and inspired many in the Will County Drug Court program to follow through on their hard work to reclaim their lives,” Glasgow said. “Millie also will teach the men in our recovery home valuable lessons about personal responsibility, selflessness and kindness that will serve them well when they take the next steps in their lives.”
The Miller Taylor House is believed to be the only one in the United States that is owned and operated by a Drug Court program. Will County Drug Court is in the process of opening a similar recovery home for women.
State’s Attorney Glasgow spearheaded the creation of the Will County Drug Court program in the late 1990s. He was one of the first state’s attorney’s to fully embrace the value of drug courts that help non-violent offenders break their addictions rather than cycle endlessly through the criminal justice system.
