Dogs and Handlers Bring Out the "Blessed" in Each Other

Tim Hetzner and Comfort Dog Jonah

I didn't hear about the horror in Orlando until Sunday afternoon, too late to include the incident in the prayers of the church during worship.

But others were more informed, including Tim Hetzner, the president of Lutheran Church Charities (LCC) and the inspiration behind the Comfort Dog Ministry.

Tim marshalled his volunteer handlers and by Monday morning, a group of eight dog and handler teams flew out of O'Hare airport near LCC's office and were on their way to respond to the Orlando attack.

Comfort Dog teams from Iowa, Texas, South Carolina, Nebraska, and Tennessee have since joined the Illinois group to bring the love of Jesus to the hurting people of Orlando. This week they will spend time with the loved ones of shooting victims, local law enforcement, and first responders. They will visit local hospitals and attend prayer vigils. In every locale, the dogs will serve as the "paws" of Jesus and help their handlers bring comfort, hope, and love to all they meet.

To keep up with the work that the dogs are doing, follow LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs on Facebook. Each dog has its own Facebook page as well. A search of "comfort dog" on FB will introduce you to most of the pack.

This article from Time magazine online also features the work done by these very gifted canines: http://time.com/4368727/comfort-dogs-are-coming-from-across-the-country-to-console-orlando-survivors/?xid=time_socialflow_twitter

The Comfort Dog Ministry is a nationwide network of highly trained Golden Retrievers that are placed in Lutheran churches to assist congregations in caring and outreach ministries. Since its inception in 2008, the ministry has grown to include over one hundred dogs working from coast to coast and border to border.

The dogs work with handlers who are equipped to provide emotional and spiritual care to those in need. The ministry is one in which dogs and handlers truly bring out the best and the "blessed" in each other.

When teams deploy, LCC doesn't charge a fee to those they serve. Rather, they rely on the generosity of donors to offset the travel and lodging expenses of their volunteers. To make a donation, you can call 866-455-6464 or donate via text by sending @LCCGIVE to 52014. LCC's website is www.lutheranchurchcharities.org and donations can be made online.