Crew Member: Mickler
Breed : Labrador/Golden Retriever
Age: 10 years old
About Mickler
Mickler is the Center for Child Protection’s Chief Facility Dog and a key member of the Travis County Child Protection Team.
He supports children and families across all Center services: inspiring courage during forensic interviews, providing comfort during medical exams, enhancing connection during therapy sessions, and bringing reassurance to caregivers who may be overwhelmed as they navigate the investigation process.
Mickler also offers unwavering support to children on the witness stand—acting as an emotional anchor so they can bravely share their story in a courtroom full of strangers…just feet away from their alleged abuser.
As the head of our Facility Dog Program, Mickler is steady, reliable, and incredibly intuitive. Since 2017, his calm demeanor and natural ability to sense emotions have helped him provide comfort, strength, and stability to children and families during their most vulnerable moments.
Mickler joined the Center’s staff in 2017, fully trained by the Assistance Dogs of the West in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Due to this specialized training, Mickler became the Center’s first facility dog—allowing him to work with children and families across a variety of services and locations. His predecessor, a therapy dog named Sidney, was the first dog in Texas allowed to accompany a child during a child abuse trial—setting the precedent that Mickler would carry forward as the first child abuse courthouse assistance dog in Travis County.
In September 2025, Mickler celebrated his 10th birthday. He knows over 50 commands, holds a Canine Good Citizen certificate, has provided comfort and support to countless children, and is the leading member of the Center’s growing Facility Dog Program.
Several years ago, a young girl entered therapy after experiencing a profound betrayal—someone who was meant to protect her failed to do so. Her understanding of people shifted, her sense of safety was shattered, and her trust in others disappeared. Despite the therapist’s gentle reassurances and repeated efforts to connect, the child remained withdrawn.
Safety and trust are not built through words alone—they are felt, experienced, and earned. One day, the therapist introduced Mickler into a session. There were no words, just gentle comfort and soft pets. Over time, this silent interaction grew into a deep connection. The young girl wasn’t ready to trust with other people, but she was willing to trust Mickler.
Slowly, Mickler showed her that relationships could be reliable and safe. Through their bond, Mickler helped her begin reconnecting with family members. It took time, but she was able to work through her trauma and take steps forward, toward a future no longer defined by her past.
Therapy is often imagined as a place of dramatic breakthroughs, but real healing is gradual. The brain is built on history, and change comes through consistent, repeated experiences over time. The more the little girl interacted with Mickler, the easier it became for her to believe that hope, trust, and safety could be possible again.
For many children, Mickler serves as a bridge to human connection. That’s why Mickler is, without question, one of the most skilled, empathetic, and impactful clinicians the Center has ever known.
Mickler enjoys his life on and off the job. His favorite non-work activities include taking long naps, getting head scratches, playing the tambourine, and meeting new people.
Website: centerforchildprotection.org
Instagram: @center4cp
Facebook: @center4cp
LinkedIn: @center4cp
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