Olivia the Facility Dog: Bringing Love and Healing to Children in Need at GBMC
SEASON: 1 | EPISODE: 10
In this moving episode of Dog Is Love, hosts Chrissy and Cara interview Dr. Sarah Perl, Medical Director of the Child Protection Program at Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC), to explore the remarkable story of Olivia, the hospital’s first full-time facility dog. Olivia represents a new and deeply compassionate dimension of trauma-informed care for children who arrive at GBMC after experiencing abuse, neglect, or medical crises.
Dr. Perl traces Olivia’s journey from her beginnings in the Hero Dogs program—where she was originally trained as a potential service dog—to her specialized path as a facility dog. The episode offers listeners a clear breakdown of the distinctions between facility dogs, therapy dogs, and service dogs, emphasizing the intense and highly focused training facility dogs must undergo. These dogs learn not only commands and tasks but also emotional calibration, empathy-based presence, and how to respond to high-stress medical situations with consistent calm.
Olivia’s intuitive nature is a key theme throughout the conversation. Dr. Perl shares powerful moments where Olivia seemed to sense children’s fear, nervousness, or trauma responses even before clinicians spoke a word. Olivia instinctively slows her breathing, leans into a child, rests her chin on a shaking hand, or curls up beside a teenager during a forensic exam. Her presence offers grounding, emotional regulation, and an immediate sense of safety. Olivia’s work is described as a blend of skill and soul—deeply trained yet beautifully instinctual.
The episode also highlights Olivia’s impact on the hospital staff. Nurses, forensic interviewers, and physicians often seek her out during difficult days. She walks the hallways with gentle focus, offering staff a moment of relief, connection, and comfort. Her presence has become a stabilizing force within the Child Protection Program, strengthening the emotional resilience of the professionals who confront heartbreaking cases every day.
Listeners also gain insight into the level of responsibility required of a facility dog handler. Dr. Perl explains the ongoing training requirements, the importance of consistency, Olivia’s care schedule, and the balance between her working hours and restorative time. The handlers are responsible for maintaining Olivia’s emotional well-being, ensuring she is not overworked, and keeping up with her certifications and health needs.
The conversation later shifts toward the financial realities of maintaining a facility dog. GBMC’s Paws for Protection initiative funds Olivia’s daily care, veterinary needs, grooming, food, and ongoing training. Chrissy and Cara highlight ways listeners can support the program and contribute to ensuring Olivia can continue providing healing to children and support to staff.
The episode concludes with a comprehensive list of resources for listeners interested in therapy dog programs, training opportunities, volunteer certifications, or organizations that prepare service and facility dogs. These include Hero Dogs, Assistance Dogs International, the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen Program, Pet Partners, Alliance of Therapy Dogs, Pets on Wheels, and others.
This episode paints a vivid portrait of how one dog can transform the emotional landscape of a healthcare system. Olivia stands as a beacon of comfort at GBMC—a four-legged healer offering children and caregivers the unconditional love they need during their most vulnerable moments.
Helpful Links:
GBMC's Paws for Protection – More information about GBMC's Child Protection Program and link for donations to further fund Olivia's care.
Hero Dogs – Non-profit organization that raises and trains service and facility dogs for veterans, first responders, and community organizations in the greater Washington D.C. metropolitan area.
American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Good Citizen Program – For those who want to earn a formal “Therapy Dog” title through AKC-recognized organizations. Explains number of visits, criteria, etc.
Pet Partners – A leading national nonprofit registering therapy-animal teams (not just dogs). Their “Become a Handler” page walks through the steps: handler training, team evaluation, registration.
Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD) – An international registry that provides testing, certification, registration, and support/insurance for therapy-dog teams.
Pets on Wheels – Pets on Wheels brings pet therapy to people all over the state of Maryland. Regularly visiting nursing homes and hospitals to assisted living facilities, homeless and domestic violence shelters, veterans’ hospitals, libraries, schools, colleges, corporate campuses and more
Assistance Dogs International (ADI) – Worldwide coalition of not-for-profit organizations that train and place Assistance Dogs. Helpful resource providing clarity on differences between types of assistance/therapy dogs.