auditor awards license to Dayton Children’s new facility dog

Today, Dayton Children’s Hospital’s new facility dog, Amelia or “Millie,” received her official dog license at the Montgomery County Auditor’s Office.  



Millie is the first in the hospital’s brand-new program, called canine co-pilots. The canine co-pilots facility dog is different than a therapy dog. This dog is specifically trained by 4 Paws 4 Ability, a local organization in Xenia. The facility dog will work with the hospital’s Child Life team to help calm patients during certain procedures, encourage kids to get up and move around even when they feel sick, comfort kids who have experienced trauma, and more.



“Millie graduated top of her class in her training program and she is a great asset to our Dayton Children’s family,” said Debbie Feldman, president and CEO of Dayton Children’s. “We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to add canine-copilots to the hospital as another program to go above and beyond for kids. And, we are excited about the opportunity to officially register her as a service dog here in Montgomery County.”



“We are excited to welcome Millie and to award her with an official Montgomery County dog license,” said Karl Keith, Montgomery County Auditor.  “As she begins her mission as a canine co-pilot, we know she and her handlers will provide an important service to all those who visit Dayton Children’s Hospital.  In presenting her with her new license, my office wishes her much success in her special new role.”



Keith provides dog licenses for free to assistance dogs like Millie. Guide dogs, hearing dogs and other service dogs qualify for this lifetime license if they have a certificate of training by a nonprofit agency. To apply, dog owners should call 937-225-4314.



Dog licenses are currently on sale for all Montgomery County dogs. For dogs that do not provide a special service, the licensing fee is $20 for spayed or neutered dogs and $24 for dogs that have not been altered. Licenses can be purchased in three ways: 

• Online at www.mcohio.org/dogs
• By mail, applications can be downloaded at www.mcohio.org/dogs. 

In-person at the County Administration Building, the Animal Resource Center, or 19 licensing outposts throughout the county