Meet Cali, the pioneering comfort therapy dog serving the Cranston Police Department and the Aubin Center at Hasbro Children's Hospital, supporting children and families through trauma with compassion.

Rhode Island's First Police & Hospital Comfort Therapy Dog

When children experience abuse, trauma, or a crisis, even the smallest source of comfort can make an enormous difference. Cali, an Australian Labradoodle, serves as a pioneering comfort therapy dog through a unique partnership between the Cranston Police Department Special Victims Unit and the Lawrence A. Aubin, Sr. Child Protection Center at Hasbro Children's Hospital.Cali helps children feel safe, reduces anxiety during difficult conversations, and provides emotional support throughout medical evaluations, investigations, treatment, and court preparation. Her calm presence helps create an environment where children are better able to communicate with healthcare professionals, investigators, and advocates.As Rhode Island's first official police comfort therapy dog and the first resident therapy dog within a children's hospital, Cali has become a nationally recognized example of how animal-assisted intervention can improve outcomes for children affected by trauma. (Brown Health)

About Cali

Cali's name represents:

C – Cranston Police Department

A – Aubin Center

L – Leadership

I – Innovation

Jointly handled by Detective Michael Iacone of the Cranston Police Department Special Victims Unit and Dr. Christine Barron of the Aubin Center at Hasbro Children's Hospital, Cali works across both organizations to provide continuous support for children and families navigating some of life's most difficult moments. (Brown Health)

How Cali Helps Children

Rather than simply making hospital visits, Cali becomes part of a child's support team.She may assist during:Child abuse investigationsMedical examinationsForensic interviewsCourt preparationFamily meetingsFollow-up appointmentsCommunity outreach and educationStaff wellness initiativesChildren often build a trusting relationship with Cali that continues throughout their entire healing journey, helping reduce fear and emotional distress while increasing feelings of safety and comfort. Research and clinical experience have shown that therapy dogs can lower stress while encouraging children to engage more openly during difficult evaluations. (RIMED)

A Groundbreaking Partnership

The collaboration between the Cranston Police Department and the Aubin Center was launched in 2018 and is believed to have been among the first programs in the United States to jointly integrate a comfort therapy dog into both law enforcement and pediatric child protection services.Unlike many therapy dog programs that work within only one organization, Cali accompanies children throughout multiple stages of their care—including law enforcement, medical treatment, advocacy, and judicial proceedings—providing a familiar and reassuring presence every step of the way. (Brown Health)

Professionally Trained

Cali received her early and advanced training through Courteous Canine LLC, where she completed extensive socialization, obedience, public access preparation, and specialized therapy dog training.Her credentials include:Canine Good CitizenPet Partners Evaluation and CertificationAdvanced comfort therapy dog preparationOngoing professional training for child advocacy environmentsThis specialized preparation allows Cali to remain calm, confident, and responsive in hospitals, police departments, court settings, schools, and community events. (Brown Health)

Supporting Children Through Trauma

The Lawrence A. Aubin, Sr. Child Protection Center provides trauma-informed medical evaluations and support for children experiencing suspected abuse or maltreatment.Cali complements the work of physicians, nurses, social workers, child life specialists, law enforcement officers, and advocates by helping children:Feel more comfortable during examinationsReduce anxiety and fearBuild trust with investigatorsImprove communicationExperience emotional support during stressful situationsHer ability to instinctively recognize emotional distress has made her an invaluable member of the multidisciplinary child protection team. (Brown Health)

Community Engagement

Beyond her work with child victims, Cali serves as an ambassador for both organizations by participating in:School visitsReading programsCommunity eventsPublic safety outreachMental health awareness initiativesPolice-community engagement activitiesThese appearances strengthen relationships between law enforcement, healthcare providers, and the communities they serve while promoting awareness of trauma-informed care and the benefits of animal-assisted intervention. (RINewsToday)

A Model for Therapy Dog Programs

Cali's success has helped inspire additional professional comfort therapy dog programs across Rhode Island, demonstrating how thoughtfully trained dogs can enhance child advocacy, healthcare, and public safety.The program continues to serve as an innovative model for agencies interested in integrating therapy dogs into multidisciplinary teams focused on supporting vulnerable populations. (RIMED)