Comfort Dogs

LCC Team Updates from East Coast

It has been over four months since Superstorm Sandy devastated the East Coast. The K-9 Comfort Dogs were invited to visit the churches and people affected by the storm in November. This past week the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs returned to New York and New Jersey. Comfort Dogs Luther, Bekah and Zeke, their K-9 handlers and LCC staff member Deaconess Tiffany Manor were able to share the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ with many people who are still displaced because of damage done to their homes during the storm.
Click here to donate to Superstorm Sandy Relief

Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 March 2013 20:01

East Coast Team stops by Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne

On Thursday, March 14, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Zeke, Bekah and Luther were invited to visit to Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Along with their handlers Marissa Manor, Janelle Stolz, Sarah Schmidgall and LCC staff member Deaconess Tiffany Manor, they toured the campus and met the future pastors and deaconesses.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 March 2013 19:52

LCC Attends Mission Fair at Peace, Lombard, IL

LCC staff members Dona and Rich Martin attended the Mission Fair held at Peace Lutheran Church in Lombard, Illinois. They were joined by LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Ruthie and Olympia. Congregation members learned about what is happening through LCC in NY, NJ, and CT with the Comfort Dogs and in disaster response.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 March 2013 19:53

Video Series of Newtown, CT Stories

LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Handlers Share Their Experiences

LCC K-9 Comfort Dog handlers tell us about their experiences in Newtown, CT. All of them have a different story to tell. Take a few minutes and watch and listen to the stories.

A special thanks to the handlers that were interviewed: Toni Bazon of St. John Darien, Pastor Paul Klopke of Living Christ Arlington Heights, Rich and Dona Martin of LCC, Ray and Jan Pemoller of Immanuel Palatine,George Schiestel of Living Christ Arlington Heights, Lynn Buhrke of Immanuel Palatine, Barb Granado of St. Peter Arlington Heights and Sharon Flaherty of St. Peter Arlington Heights.

Click here to watch the videos on the LCC YouTube Channel

Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 March 2013 19:54

Addie Comfort Dog Update in Danbury, Connecticut

K-9 Comfort Dog Addie took a day off from Sandy Hook School to visit Danbury Mall with Principal and handler Nate Palkewick from Immanuel Lutheran School in Danbury, Connecticuton Saturday March 9th. They were joined by Danielle, Lizzie and Nate's son Josh. Together with Addie they met many kids and their families.
Last Updated on Friday, 15 March 2013 11:15

K-9 Comfort Dog Luther working in Connecticut

On Monday, March 11th, Luther Comfort Dog was serving at Hands of Grace, a human care ministry of St. Paul's Lutheran, New Hartford, Connecticut. They are feeding, clothing, and praying for the people and he gets to tag-along providing comfort as needed!
Last Updated on Friday, 15 March 2013 11:16

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs bring Comfort for ISAT testing

Students with high anxiety at Westfield Middle School Bloomingdale, IL received some extra comfort

K-9 Comfort Dogs Zippy (Trinity Roselle, Illinois) and JoJo (Living Christ Arlington Heights, Illinois) helped some of the students with high anxiety over testing calm down their fears. The school coordinator stated that some of the students become physically sick thinking about taking tests.

Zippy and JoJo, with handlers Steve Kalbach and Becky Staehlin, spent about 30 minutes in the morning before testing began. During that time, the students had time to pet the dogs and calm down their fear of test taking.

Last Updated on Friday, 15 March 2013 11:17

After the tour around Newtown they drove to a nursing home and gave a presentation and had dog visits.

LCC staff Rich & Dona Martin and Deaconess Tiffany Manor along with K-9 Comfort Dogs Luther, Zeke, Bekah and their college handlers attended the Festival of Workshops for the Atlantic District of the LCMS designed to help congregations in various areas of ministry.

They met with District President, Rev. David Benke (pictured), and listened to keynote speaker, Rev. Rob Morris from Christ the King Lutheran Church, talk on fear. The team was also able to interact with the over 300 people who had attended the workshops.

Click here to view event photos

Last Updated on Friday, 15 March 2013 11:23

LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Team Updates from East Coast

On Sunday, March 10, the team visited St. Paul's Lutheran New Hartford, CT and met with New England District President Tim Yeadon. LCC staff member, Deaconess Tiffany Manor, gave two brief congregational presentations on Comfort Dog ministry and two children's presentations for their Kids for Christ. Then they went to Christ The King Lutheran Church in Newtown, Connecticut where they had been invited by church members and Pastor Morris to attended a reception after church and had lunch. After lunch they spent about two hours with Ken Fay; he took them around to a number of sites that were significant in the Newtown tragedy.

East Coast

After the tour around Newtown they drove to a nursing home and gave a presentation and had dog visits.

Click here to donate to Superstrom Sandy Relief

Last Updated on Wednesday, 13 March 2013 14:42

K9 Comfort Dog Team Commissioned for East Coast Trip

On Sunday, March 3 Pastor Bill Jensen of Wittenberg Lutheran Center, Normal, Illinois, commissioned a team of college student Comfort Dog handlers to accompany LCC staff member Deaconess Tiffany Manor on a disaster response trip to the east coast. The team plans to depart Friday, March 9 and will visit sites within the New England, Atlantic and New Jersey districts of the LCMS.

Click here to donate to Superstorm Sandy Relief

Last Updated on Friday, 08 March 2013 17:51

Butter Reports

Last Thursday I met with Club 55 hearing all about Norway. I even went to lunch with them. Saturday I traveled to St. Paul's, Harvard, with LWML ladies for their Lenten Breakfast. Kathy and I visited friends at Crystal Pines. I saw some of you at church on Sunday. I missed Pastor's touch. Pray for him! Later Kathy and I met other Comfort Dogs at Brookfield Zoo greeting people (kids) who came to see the sled dogs. On Monday I spent time with Mary Jane. I was at T'ai Chi on Tuesday. Then in the evening after my bath, I went to stay with Debbie for a while. Call her if you need me!

Last Updated on Friday, 08 March 2013 17:42

Co-Directors of the K9 Comfort Dog Ministry Discussing Opportunities in Newtown, CT

LCC staff members Dona and Rich Martin discussed K-9 Comfort Dog opportunities with Pastor Rob Morris and Cathy Reiss from Christ the King in Newtown, CT on Tuesday, March 5, 2013.
Last Updated on Friday, 08 March 2013 17:43

LCC K9 Comfort Dogs Continue in Newtown

LCC Staff Leaving to Conduct Handler Training

After a week off of school K9 Comfort Dog Addie was ready to get back to Sandy Hook School on Monday.

This Saturday, March 2, 2013, co-directors of the K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry, Rich and Dona Martin, will fly to Connecticut to conduct more handler training at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Danbury, Connecticut in anticipation of Addie working with church activities.

Click here to donate

Last Updated on Friday, 08 March 2013 17:54

Butter Reports

Last Friday evening Jacque took me to Crosspoint's Valentine event. Saturday Debbie and I visited friends at Crystal Pines. In the evening I went to my Benefit Dance. USA Dance members had a great time. You should have seen all the things in the Butter Boutique! Those homemade treats are yummy! Thank you, Girl Scouts and Ann. I greeted at church on Sunday. On Monday I spent time with Mary Jane. I was at the Lenten supper and Wednesday service.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 05 March 2013 09:25

K-9 Comfort Dogs Invited to Participate in FREEze Day at the Brookfield Zoo

The sun was shining at Brookfield Zoo as the K-9 Comfort Dogs greeted 4,900+ visitors for FREEze Day at Brookfield Zoo.

Adults and children enjoyed petting the dogs and learning more about the K-9 Ministry; even the children who were traditionally scared of dogs reached out and pet them. Visitors asked questions of the handlers and stopped at the LCC table to get more information on the Comfort Dogs. Many fans of the Comfort Dogs stopped by to give them all a pet and to collect the dogs' business cards.

The event was set up on the West Mall area of the Zoo. Also attending the event with the K-9 Comfort Dogs were the Green Valley Sled Dogs

Click here for photos from this event

Last Updated on Tuesday, 05 March 2013 09:26

More Articles...