Olive has done it again.
She's captured the hearts of people across the country - and voters selected her as the 2020 Therapy Dog of the Year.
However, there's still work to do for the poodle mix, who gained notoriety as a volunteer for Court Appointed Special Advocates.
Voting has begun for the final round of the 2020 American Humane Hero Dog Awards. Olive, the therapy dog winner, now faces off against Dolly Pawton, the Service Dog of the Year; Blue, the Military Dog of the Year; Aura, the Guide/Hearing Dog of the Year; K9 Cody, the Law Enforcement Dog of the Year; MacKenzie, the Shelter Dog of the Year; and Remington, the Search and Rescue Dog of the Year.
To vote, visit herodogawards.org, click on "Round 3 of voting." Voting, available daily, ends Sept. 10.
Olive's person, Capital City CASA volunteer Lisa Bax, nominated her in the therapy category for her work with children who find themselves going through the ordeal of the legal system.
"I was speechless and extremely humbled," Bax said about learning Olive had won her category. "You can take a rescue dog - and she learns to advocate for kids. People think that is such a heroic act. I am very humbled by that."
It's hard to tell what's going on behind those big brown eyes of Olive's, Bax said. But, hopefully, the little dog is proud she's brought awareness to the work CASA does.
CASA is a volunteer-oriented organization made up of a network of people from all walks of life (and one dog) who believe society has a fundamental obligation to make sure children thrive and are treated with dignity and are kept safe. Its volunteers, appointed by judges, watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children. They try to make certain the children don't get lost in legal and social service systems or languish in inappropriate group or foster homes.
The program serves more than 150 children in nearby Cole County.
Olive is stationed at the courthouse to greet children and take their minds off the tension and drama going on around them in the courtroom.
She can distract children and give them a sense of calm.
"Dogs are smarter than what we are allowed to say they are. If they could talk, they'd have a lot to tell us," Bax said.
Originally, the finalists were to attend a massive gala, but the COVID-19 pandemic has been "a hiccup," she said. Plans for the competition's finals are still up in the air. It is supposed to be broadcast on the Hallmark Channel.
Regardless of how it is handled, the announcement of the overall hero is to occur this fall.
Another Jefferson City dog, Sobee, made it to the semifinals in her category, the Service Dog category.
Sobee, a boxer mix, is the service dog for Jason Howe. Howe had trouble adjusting to civilian life after he returned from the service. He had post-traumatic stress syndrome, and began to self-medicate. But, while in his home state of Maine, he met someone who connected him with K9s on the Front Line, which provides service dogs to veterans suffering from PTSD.
As soon as the organization connected Sobee and Howe, he felt the bond. Inspired by the organization, Howe and Sobee started a chapter in Missouri.
Although Sobee didn't win her category, she wasn't disappointed, Howe said.
"I'm completely happy we did so well," he said.
Above everything else, the notoriety Sobee brought to the nonprofit was invaluable, Howe said.
"We're letting people know," he said, "that if they are struggling, they can overcome things."