Basil
Midland Child Advocacy Center
Breed: Black Labrador Retriever
Meet Basil
Basil is Midland Child Advocacy Center’s very first Facility Dog. A Black Labrador Retriever with an energetic, friendly personality, Basil loves people, giving kisses, showing off her tricks for snacks, and rolling over for belly rubs. She brings warmth and comfort to children, caregivers, the team, and the broader community.
At the Center, Basil greets visitors when they arrive and provides gentle comfort during forensic interviewing appointments. She is also a member of the county’s Multidisciplinary Team and an honorary member of the Kiwassee Kiwanis Club. With her joyful personality, Basil helps people smile while also offering calm support when someone is feeling upset.
Basil has a special ability to sense when someone may need comfort. In those moments, she often responds by gently lying next to them or resting on their feet. Whether she is welcoming a family, sitting with a child during a difficult moment, or supporting the professionals around her, Basil helps create a more comforting and connected environment.
About Midland Child Advocacy Center
Midland Child Advocacy Center provides child abuse and neglect prevention and intervention services to residents of Midland County, Michigan. The Center conducts forensic interviews with children impacted by sexual abuse, severe physical abuse and neglect, witness to violence, drug endangerment, and human trafficking. Through its prevention work, Midland Child Advocacy Center also provides body safety lessons for children, abuse prevention training for adults, car seat safety inspections and installations, and infant safe sleep education.
Training and Background
Basil began her training with Leader Dogs for the Blind in Rochester Hills, Michigan. During her training, it was determined that she would be best suited for a different career, which led her to the Canine Advocates Program. Canine Advocates places career-changed dogs into victim-serving settings, including Child Advocacy Centers, where their intelligence, sweetness, and loving nature can bring comfort to others.
Basil became a Canine Advocate when she was a year and a half old and was placed with Midland Child Advocacy Center in February 2026. She has earned the AKC Canine Good Citizen title and continues regular training to keep building her skills.
Her training and ongoing development help her provide calm, appropriate support in a child-centered setting, from greeting visitors to offering comfort during forensic interviewing appointments.
A Moment That Says It All
During a forensic interviewing appointment, a young child asked to take a break. They called it a “Basil break,” a chance to step away from the interview and spend a few quiet moments with Basil in the Family Room.
The child entered the room, sat down next to Basil, and spent time petting her and offering words of praise. Basil stayed close, creating a calm space where the child could pause, breathe, and regroup before finishing the forensic interview.
That moment shows the heart of Basil’s role at Midland Child Advocacy Center. Her comfort gives children a gentle way to feel supported, gather strength, and continue when they are ready.
On Her Day Off
When Basil is off duty, she loves staying active. Her favorite place is the backyard, where she plays soccer, fetch, and, when it is hot outside, runs through and carries around her dog sprinkler. Basil also loves playing with other dogs, meeting new people, attending classes, getting snacks from the garden, and going on hikes. She recently began her Fast CAT “career,” where she gets to run really, really fast.
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