Breed: Golden Retriever | Age: 5 Years Old
Bacon is the Children’s Advocacy Center of Kent County’s beloved facility dog and an important part of the care families receive the moment they walk through the doors. A 5-year-old Golden Retriever with a calm presence and a big heart, Bacon is often the first friendly face (and wagging tail) to greet children and caregivers in the lobby.
The Children’s Advocacy Center of Kent County opened its doors in 1993 to serve suspected victims of child sexual abuse. For the past three decades, the Center has helped to minimize trauma by providing a space where a child has access to every service they may need—and where they only have to tell their story once. Since their inception, Kent CAC has supported over 25,000 children and families through their one-of-a-kind multidisciplinary approach, ensuring every child is met with compassion, dignity, and coordinated care.
Bacon was trained through PAWS with a Cause, where he spent his early life learning the skills that make him such a steady and reliable support for children and families. After completing his training, Bacon was placed at the CAC of Kent County when he was a year and a half old, ready to begin his work alongside the team.
As the head of the Center’s Facility Dog Program, Mickler is known for being steady, reliable, and deeply intuitive. His calm demeanor and natural ability to sense emotion have helped him provide comfort, strength, and stability to countless children and families in their most vulnerable moments. In September 2025, Mickler celebrated his 10th birthday. He knows over 50 commands, holds a Canine Good Citizen certificate, and continues to lead the Center’s growing Facility Dog Program with quiet confidence and constant compassion.
In many therapy sessions, there are moments when words are hard to find and emotions feel too heavy to carry alone. During those times, Bacon has a way of quietly stepping in—offering calm, closeness, and comfort without needing to say a thing.
Over time, that silent interaction became something powerful. The young girl wasn’t ready to trust other people yet—but she was willing to trust Mickler. And through that bond, Mickler helped her begin to believe in safety again. Slowly, he became a bridge back to human connection, helping her reconnect with family members and take steady steps forward. Healing didn’t happen all at once, but it happened in the way it often does best: through consistency, patience, and repeated experiences that proved trust could be real.
For many children, Mickler offers that first spark of hope—the beginning of believing that relationships can be safe again. That’s why Mickler is, without question, one of the most skilled, empathetic, and impactful “clinicians” the Center has ever known.
Want Us to Feature Your Facility Animal Next?
Submit your own facility animal to the Comfort Crew and tell us about the comfort they bring. They might be featured on our page next!
