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A 15-month-old Black Labrador named Dottie is helping Arlington County’s first responders navigate difficult conversations about trauma, mental health and the pressures of public safety work.
Dottie joined the county’s Office of Public Wellness in January 2026 as its first full-time wellness canine. She supports Arlington’s fire, police, sheriff and emergency dispatch personnel alongside her handlers, licensed clinical social workers Leslie Geer and Donna Young.
The idea for a permanent wellness dog emerged after the devastating mid-air collision at Washington National Airport in early 2025. As Geer and Young helped first responders process the unprecedented event, Geer happened to be caring for Bill, a wellness dog visiting from DC Fire.
Bill’s presence noticeably changed those interactions. Personnel appeared more comfortable engaging with support services, helping overcome some of the stigma and hesitation surrounding mental health care in high-stress professions.
“Having Bill there made a profound difference in how we engaged with the community,” Geer said. “We saw firsthand how a dog makes people more comfortable seeking support after trauma.”
Dottie now accompanies Geer and Young to appointments, meetings and debriefings at fire stations, police stations and other public safety facilities. While the social workers guide therapeutic discussions, Dottie moves around the room seeking attention, accepting treats and offering a calming presence.
During one difficult fire debrief, Dottie quietly wandered among the participants as they spoke. Geer said one firefighter called her the perfect distraction because she filled awkward pauses and made it easier to continue an uncomfortable discussion about emotions.
The Office of Public Wellness organizes its work around three areas: mental health and peer support, family preparedness and financial planning, and physical health and nutrition. Dottie primarily supports the first by making it easier for personnel to engage.
She has already visited several fire stations and the emergency dispatch center. Geer said Dottie’s biggest challenge may be leaving at the end of the workday because she wants to remain with the people she meets.
Young said demand for visits has exceeded her expectations.
“Right away, people were so excited she is here,” Young said. “We have had so many requests for site visits with her.”
Geer and Young remain mindful that not everyone is comfortable around dogs. They bring Dottie only into settings where those present welcome her, though they said the response so far has been overwhelmingly positive.
Dottie began preparing for service work when she was eight weeks old through Heeling Hands, a Leesburg-based nonprofit that trains service animals and facility-support dogs. She has completed her certifications and continues training as she settles into her role.
Heeling Hands Training Director Ashlyn Cohill said Dottie’s outgoing personality made her an early candidate for work that involves helping many people. Unlike service dogs that tend to bond primarily with one person, Dottie eagerly approaches people wherever she goes and wants to remain near those who need her.
Facility wellness dogs can serve agencies for nearly a decade. Although Dottie is just beginning her career, she has already become a valued part of Arlington’s public safety wellness team.
Away from work, Dottie lives with Geer and gets plenty of time to play. She enjoys bones, rounds of fetch and post-bath “zoomies,” even if her still-growing paws sometimes make her a little uncoordinated.
“She’s still growing into her new job, her personality, and her paws,” Geer said.
Members of the public are welcome to greet Dottie when they encounter her around Arlington. She has met people of all ages, including babies, and Young said the friendly Labrador has yet to meet a stranger.