GBMC’s New Facility Dog Brings a Comforting Presence to Young Victims

In a quiet corner of GBMC’s Child Protection Program (CPP), a new team member is making a big impact. When children walk into the hospital for non-acute exams related to sexual assault or child abuse, or for interviews at the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) down the street, they’re greeted not just by medical professionals but by a furry friend who helps ease their anxiety. 

Olivia, CPP and CAC’s new facility dog, offers comfort in a space where many have experienced unimaginable trauma. The 2-year-old yellow lab is more than a companion; she’s a lifeline in moments of distress, helping children feel safe, supported, and heard. 

"It takes that initial anxiety away from coming into a new environment,” Sarah S Perl, MSN, CRNP A/P, Medical Director for the Child Protection Program and Olivia’s primary handler, said. “Often, people have dogs in their house or their lives, so it’s familiar and feels safe. Many of these kids have other traumas they are working with, or this is not the first time something like this has happened. Olivia is another layer of support and comfort we can add to their experience.” 

GBMC’s Child Protection Program provides non-acute exams for children outside the window of forensic evidence collection and provides medical evaluations when there are concerns of child physical abuse, neglect, or other maltreatment, in collaboration with Baltimore County Child Protective Services. 

Numerous medical professionals are trained in this trauma-informed care, including a Child Life Specialist who is available to walk children through this often horrific experience. Having Olivia available for those who want the comfort of a facility dog is an added comfort for these high-stress-level cases. 

She is trained to notice stress cues, such as wringing hands or tapping feet, and has been taught to snuggle or provide pressure to relax the child’s nervous system. She can also sit in a chair or hand someone a tissue. 

It’s only been a few months, and Olivia has already made an impressive impact. Not just with victims. 

“She's been a huge support to our ED staff as well, which has been an unintended but welcome use of her skills,” Perl said. “All the nurses want to see her when she's here, and it just seems to bring the overall tone of the unit down. We had a stressful case with a potential lockdown recently, and afterward, in the debrief room, snuggling and petting her emotionally regulated everyone. It was amazing to watch.” 

Olivia’s ability to reduce anxiety by providing a familiar, calming presence is vital. Perl hopes she will eventually be allowed in the courtroom to support kids when they’re testifying against their abusers. 

Perl feels strongly about Olivia’s ability to comfort kids going through a lot of turmoil and trauma, which is why she is grateful to the team at Hero Dogs, the Montgomery County-based nonprofit organization that placed Olivia, for allowing the two organizations to co-handle Olivia and support more kids. 

Founded in 2009, Hero Dogs specializes in placing and training assistance dogs, including service dogs, facility dogs, therapy dogs, and skilled home companions. The organization started by focusing on service dogs but has since expanded its program to include facility dogs, like Olivia, who are particularly suited for roles in community organizations, hospitals, and schools. 

“Hero Dogs improves the quality of life of our nation's heroes and enhances the services of community organizations by placing assistance dogs with customized training and lifetime support,” Sabrina Zambito, Trainer and Facility Dog Manager at Hero Dogs, said. "Someone is more likely to come up to the person with the cute dog and start petting them and opening up. A lot of the feedback we get is how the dogs help break down that barrier.” 

The organization prides itself on providing customized training to meet the exact needs of the clients they will serve, which means placements can take awhile but are well worth the added effort to ensure dog and client are a perfect match. They also prioritize lifetime support for each dog and their placements, ensuring long-term success throughout the dog’s career. 

These two values, plus the fact that they were local, was attractive to Perl. Working at a community hospital, she appreciated Hero Dogs’ community-centered mission and personalized commitment to each placement. 

While Perl is her primary handler, CAC Director Krista Trahan is Olivia’s co-handler, so the dog can be available for kids even when Perl is not. Both Perl and Trahan attended the required 20 hours of training and live close to each other for ease of transport. The first six months are a getting-to-know-you period for the team, as Perl and Trahan build a relationship and routine with Olivia. Monthly check-ins with Hero Dogs provide additional support as Olivia continues to build trust and comfort with the children she helps. 

GBMC is committed to ensuring every child who walks through its doors can receive the support they need during their most challenging moments. With Olivia's growing role—whether it's offering emotional comfort in interviews, supporting the child abuse team during stressful situations, or eventually offering comfort in court—she is an essential part of the healing journey for GBMC’s youngest patients.