Monday, December 17, 2012

Comfort

I was watching CNN's coverage of the memorial service in Newtown, CT when a group of dogs arrived outside the high school.



They are from ...Lutheran Charities Comfort Dogs Program
Recently they have visited victims of Hurricane Sandy. They go wherever comfort is needed.






Later, dogs from Hudson Valley Golden Retriever Club also arrived.





The dogs will stay as long as needed; they will help ease the fears of returning to school and will distract people from the endless heartbreak of 26 funerals.

"Dogs are nonjudgmental. They are loving. They are accepting of anyone," Hetzner (head of the Lutheran Charities group) said. "It creates the atmosphere for people to share."

29 comments:

jaycoles@gmail.com said...

I saw them on NBC news and also some people who drove 1000 miles just to be there and give people hugs. It is a horrible thing but underneath everything there is Love. Thanks for this post. I am sharing it.

Sylvia K said...

So beautiful and so true!! I was just watching some of them on the news! Wonderful, four-legged friends and comforters! Hope you have a good week I'm not sure you celebrate Christmas, but I do send holiday hugs to you and to Hope!!

HermanTurnip said...

This is a fantastic program, and one that does immediate good. There's nothing like animal companionship to take away sadness.

Isn't there a medical study that proves this? Off to Google I go!

ds said...

What a wonderful program! It is so nice to see a smile or two coming from that heartbroken town.

Happy Elf Mom (Christine) said...

So many good people and animals. So encouraging to know there is still good in this world. Thank you, Dianne.

Mike said...

Everyone needs a comfort dog.

Hilary said...

Such wonderful creatures. Those last two pics in particular are beautiful. What a great program.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Oh WoW!!! I found this so very touching...What a Wonderful idea and it really makes so much sense! A loving animal can do more to heal a hurting broken heart that anyone or anything else, especially with something so final as this terrible terrible massacre....!

Cherie said...

What a wonderful ministry/program! And once Goldens get out of their hyper stage, they are a great bread to cuddle with. (My mom has had Goldens.) There are times when nothing else but a critter will do. And when it's all about feelings, it's even more helpful. When you're with something that can't talk, you don't have to find the words. You can just experience the moment together. It's freeing. It's safe. How great these groups and others are doing this kind of thing.

Linda Reeder said...

I saw them too. What a wonderful program - comfort dogs! Looks like it's working.

Anonymous said...

So caring and lovely to see these dogs in action.

Granny Annie said...

I cannot watch the news so I missed this. Thank you for sharing. This is a beautiful and healing report. My dog Slim has been comforting us.

DJan said...

I had stopped watching the endless coverage and missed this, too. Thank you so much for sharing it, and I think nothing could bring more comfort than this.

Daryl said...

oh boy .. you got me all fa-klempt

Pat said...

Thank you so much for posting this. It truly warmed my heart. In all the horrific news coming out of CT, this is loving news. I missed this on the overwhelming news coverage.

LL Cool Joe said...

Wow, I'm not even a dog fan, but this has moved me to tears? What a wonderful idea. Animals do bring so much comfort to people and appear to love unconditionally.

Kay L. Davies said...

Hugging a Golden Retriever is one of the most comforting things I know of. This year I really am going to have our Lindy certified as a hospital therapy dog, because she loves people, and people love her.
How wonderful to see the photos of children and dogs, Dianne. Yes, they made me cry, but not so much from sorrow (there is that, yes) as from relief that the children have these wonderful bundles of love to hug.
K

Akelamalu said...

How wonderful. I have heard of dogs being taken into hospitals to give comfort to people too.

Reb said...

Dianne, thank you for posting this. I have been catching up on blog posts today and this is the first one that showed something positive being done for the survivors.

It is tragic that all those children and teachers died, but, their suffering is over, it is the survivors that need the help now.

I have been avoiding the news, well, I avoid it anyway, but, this brought me to tears. I hope you don't mind, but, I am going to share this with some friends.

Karen (formerly kcinnova) said...

I saw something about this on facebook last night, but this is the first I have read the entire story with this many pictures. Thank you.♥
Reb sent me here, and I, too, am in tears of gratitude for the kind, thoughtful people who bring animals to help heal the hearts of those who need it most.

Linda said...

Sometimes the best comfort comes with four feet and a tail.

Not much else I can say at the moment, I'm still reeling from the horror of this most horrific of attacks.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

I also saw and liked the idea (I think it was started by Ann Curry on NBC news, but I'm not totally sure), anyway about just doing an anonymous kindness for someone else in memory and honor of Sandy Hook. There is so little we CAN do, I liked the idea of being able to do something positive.

Lowell said...

There is nothing like a Golden Retriever. We lost ours 1 and 1/2 years ago and we miss her terribly still! She was the sweetest and most loving and loyal dog we've ever had.

I know they will bring joy and comfort wherever they go!

Reena said...

Isn't this just the best kind of therapy!!!

EG CameraGirl said...

What a wonderful service! Friendly dogs can help heal, that's for sure.

Russell said...

Very nice. In the wake of such a tragedy these comfort dogs are so giving.

I stopped by your blog after seeing Hilary's blog.

Take care.



Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing this. I too stopped watching the news, so I missed this.

I can appreciate the power of dogs and their relationships to us. On the night my father lay dying, we brought in our family pet Sebastian who sat and sorta leaned into my dad until it was time to take him away.

I believe my father was comforted by Sebastian's presence.

Ellen Whyte said...

I wonder: do you think the dogs get depressed? I mean, they pick up on our body language so well that I wonder if they need to have a happy time after to get over the therapy effect.

Wishing you a furry Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. See you in 2013. Meow from Au, Target and Guido. And me of course! Ellen

Rambling Woods said...

love this