Comfort Dogs

Tragic Shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary - LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs have been asked to deploy

Our prayers for God's strength and comfort go out to the families of Sandy Hook Elementary School and the entire community of Newtown, CT. The New England District President, Rev. Timothy Yeadon has asked for the Comfort Dogs to come. Early tomorrow morning a team of LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and LCC Staff (Tim Hetzner, Tim Kurth, Dona Martin, and Lynn Buhrke) will leave Illinois for Newtown. We will work in cooperation with Rev Robert Morris and Christ the King Lutheran Church in Newtown to bring the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus to all those who have been traumatized by this horrific event.

How you can help:

Keep everyone in Newtown, Connecticut in your prayers
Keep Christ the King Lutheran Church in your prayers
Please consider financially supporting this trip and mission to the families affected - click here to donate

Last Updated on Friday, 14 December 2012 15:29

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Visit the North Pole for United Fantasy Flight

On Saturday, December 1, nine LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and eighteen LCC staff and volunteers participated in the United Airlines Fantasy Flight event at Chicago's O'Hare Airport. This is the second year the dogs were invited to the Fantasy Flight. United works in cooperation with Chicago area hospitals to identify children dealing with a variety of health and physical challenges. These children are invited with their families to take part in a Fantasy Flight.

On Saturday about one hundred children and their families boarded a plane at O'Hare and were treated to a flight around Lake Michigan. They landed and were treated to a water salute by the Chicago Fire Department before exiting the plane to a gate that was decorated like the North Pole.

Click here to "Like" the O'Hare Fantasy Flight Facebook page
Click here to view the photo gallery of the United event

Last Updated on Sunday, 24 February 2013 15:33

K-9 Butter Sends Weekly Report

I went along to church on Friday evening where the ladies were packing cookies. Then we went to the Friday Night Bible class. I greeted people coming to the Craft Fair on Saturday. Then Cliff took me on a tour of some Algonquin stores (Home Depot, etc.) and to the tree lighting in Riverside Park. I attended church on Sunday. In the afternoon I went to the Birthday Party for Jesus and met some little friends there. On Monday I spent time with Mary Jane. Wednesday evening we saw friends at the soup supper. Then we went to church.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 12 December 2012 08:35

K-9 Comfort Dogs Visit Both Campuses of Unity School in Chicago for Chapel

K-9 Comfort Dogs Ruthie, Chewie and Tillie along with handlers Dona Martin, Lynn Buhrke and Dick Bernard visited St. Paul Norwood Park and Jehovah El Buen Pastor in Chicago. Tim Kurth accompanied the team and shared the chapel message with students at both campuses. These two churches serve as the East and West campuses of Unity Lutheran School which is the result of combining four Lutheran schools into the two campuses. After chapel at each location students took time to visit with the dogs. The K-9 Comfort Dogs are available to visit your school to provide the chapel message and give students a chance to meet the dogs.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 12 December 2012 08:36

K-9 Comfort Dogs Visit Elderly Residents at Sunrise Retirement Center

On Tuesday, December 4th Comfort Dogs Olympia, Ruthie, and Strudel visited with residents at Sunrise Assisted Living in Highland Park. LCC was invited by Shirley Franke of Visiting Angels. The Comfort Dogs, together with LCC staff Dona and Rich Martin, K9 handlers Diane Moody and Pam Stock, greeted and shared information with the residents.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 12 December 2012 08:37

K-9 Comfort Dog Butter Reports Activity for the Week

Rhett took me to church and pie last Wednesday. Then I did church again Thanksgiving morning. Kathy and I visited our friends at Crystal Pines on Saturday. I greeted at church on Sunday. On Monday I spent some time with Mary Jane. (In case you're wondering, I only got a little piece of leftover turkey. Yum!)
Last Updated on Wednesday, 05 December 2012 11:57

K-9 Comfort Dog Barnabas Recognized for Trip to East Coast

K-9 Comfort Dog Barnabas and Pastor Tim Engel (pictured left) of Holy Cross in Portage, Indiana were featured in the local news for their trip to the East Coast. They were part of an LCC K-9 team that included Pastor Phil Ressler, Deb Kinne and Comfort Dogs Chloe and Ladel. The team traveled to New York just a few days after Superstorm Sandy and visited schools and churches in New York and New Jersey. Click here to read the full story

Last Updated on Thursday, 29 November 2012 09:21

This Week's Butter Report

K-9 Butter from St. John's Algonquin had another busy week. Here's her report...

I attended the eighth and last session of Healing 101. I'm going to miss Bob and Kathy and those guys every Thursday. Cliff took me to an event at Eastview School on Friday. Some of my Comfort Dog friends were there. And kids! Lots of them! At Crystal Pines on Saturday Kathy and I saw our friends and gave them our Thanksgiving greetings. Sunday morning I was at church. I went to see Mary Jane on Monday. After T'ai Chi on Tuesday, I visited with the Pre-school. More kids! Then I went to see Dr. Redeker. He says I can just keep on taking the same pills.

Last Updated on Thursday, 29 November 2012 09:20

K-9 Comfort Dogs Invited Back to United Fantasy Flight - Help Us Provide a Special Gift to Children

The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs have been invited back to participate in this year's Fantasy Flight hosted by United Airlines. On December 1 terminally and critically ill children from hospitals around the Chicago area will be treated to a special 'flight' to the North Pole at O'Hare Airport. For the second year in a row the K-9 Comfort Dogs will be at the North Pole along with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and all the elves as children exit the plane. LCC would like to present every child a small stuffed K-9 Comfort Dog. Please consider a financial gift to LCC to help us cover the cost of these dogs which will be a blessing to the children and a reminder of their visit with our dogs. Watch next week's newsletter for a full report on the event. Click here to donate for the plush K-9 Comfort Dogs
Click here to schedule a K-9 Comfort Dog visit
Donate to the K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry

Last Updated on Tuesday, 27 November 2012 18:48

K-9 Comfort Dog Calendar from Holy Cross in Portage, Indiana

At the end of this school year K-9 Comfort Dog Prince, serving at Portage High School in Portage, Indiana, is planning to retire. Holy Cross is Prince's home church and they are planning to replace Prince with a new LCC K-9 Comfort Dog.

Holy Cross has produced a 2013 calendar featuring K-9 Comfort Dogs Barnabas and Prince in action. Sales of the calendar will go to raise funds for the new K-9 Comfort Dog that will serve at Portage High School. Pastor Tim Engel asked us to share this announcement:

Spend 2013 with Prince and Barnabas, the Comfort Dogs of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Portage, Indiana. Each month features photos of the dogs making a difference in the Portage community. The calendars also make great Christmas gifts for the dog lovers in your life. Each calendar costs $12 (including shipping).

Click here to order your 2013 K-9 Calendar

Last Updated on Wednesday, 14 November 2012 16:25

K-9 Darlin' Visits Immanuel Mokena for Church and Sunday School

Barb Belanski of Immanuel Mokena sent in the following report...

Immanuel in Mokena was privileged to have Elliott Fasel and Darlin' visit our church and Sunday School on November 11th. Everyone loved Darlin;......young and old alike.......and Elliott enjoyed telling Darlin's story over and over in addition to handing out her 'business card.' Our Sunday School was making get well cards as well as cards for our veterans so it was an appropriate setting for Darlin's visit. Attached are a few photos.

An awesome ministry ........thank you.

Blessings,
Barb Belanski
Immanuel, Mokena, 10731 W. LaPorte Road

Last Updated on Thursday, 29 November 2012 09:22

K-9 Comfort Dogs Visit Developmentally Disabled Students at Eastview Elementary in Algonquin

K-9 Comfort Dogs Kye, Star, Addi, Adeena, JoJo, Butter and Ruthie visited Eastview Elementary School in Algonquin last Friday. Two classrooms of students with Developmental Disabilities were very excited to visit with the K-9 Comfort Dogs. In preparing the children for the Comfort Dog visit their teachers read books about working dogs. Then the students prepared questions to ask the handlers about the dogs. Our time ended with the students giving each dog a nyla bone to take home and a donation from the teachers.

Thanks to all our K-9 Friends at Eastview.

K-9 Butter Reports Another Busy Week

Last Thursday I attended the seventh session of Healing 101. Debbie and I saw our friends at Crystal Pines on Saturday. Sunday morning I was at church. I went to see Mary Jane on Tuesday after T'ai Chi. This past Thursday I helped Club 55 as they visited Elisabeth at her home (She has a cat!) and members at Eastgate. I was petted by staff people and residents coming through the lobby. Such a nice place!

K-9 Comfort Dogs Visit VFW Post 311 in Richton Park

On Saturday November 17th K-9 Comfort Dogs Ruthie, Shami and Darlin' accompanied by LCC Staff member Rich Martin, and handlers Toni Bazon and Elliott Fasel visited with veterans at VFW Post 311 in Richton Park.

The veterans were there to learn about the sometimes challenging process of receiving their benefits. Experts from the state and federal agencies provided much needed help and guidance for our heroes. Well done VFW Post 311.

Holy Cross Portage, Indiana LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministries Given Chamber of Commerce Award

K-9 Comfort Dogs Prince and Barnabas were special guests at the November 17 Greater Portage Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet. The annual event honors individuals, organizations, and businesses for their contributions to the Portage community and Northwest Indiana.

The Comfort Dog Ministries of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Portage, received the Chamber's award for improving the Quality of Life in the city of Portage. Comfort Dog Prince was recognized for his service to the students and staff of Portage High School, where he assists his handler, Tim Kunstek, in his work with at-risk teens. Comfort Dog Barnabas was recognized for his acts of canine compassion as well as his disaster response work in the Portage community and beyond at the side of his primary handler, Pastor Tim Engel.

Both dogs were dressed to impress as they arrived in custom-fitted tuxedos and mingled with a roomful of more than a hundred community leaders. Pastor Engel admits that he was teary-eyed during the presentation. "Sometimes I underestimate the impact that the dogs have in our community and in the lives of the people they meet. I got a little choked-up when the presenter described the many ways that Prince and Barney make a difference in Portage."

As the Holy Cross congregation prepares for Prince to enter semi-retirement at the end of this school year, they are making plans and raising funds to add another Comfort Dog to their ministry. Engel comments,

"There will be more than enough work in Portage to keep all three dogs busy. They will each help our church bring Christ to our community."

Last Updated on Tuesday, 20 November 2012 16:36

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