In 2008, the Lutheran Church Charities, a nonprofit charity organization composed of various Lutheran churches worldwide, established a national human-care ministry called the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry. They wanted to use the skills and characteristics of Golden Retrievers to offer comfort and relief to people in distress.
Ever since the group was launched, they have helped numerous people who became victims of tragedies and disasters. This also includes search and rescue volunteers who work hard to save every life they can.
Collapse
When a condominium building in Miami collapsed in June 2021, killing almost a hundred humans and injuring even more, volunteers from the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry were again ready to offer their services. Within a day, nine experienced handlers and their furry partners were at the site to provide comfort and joy. They came from Illinois, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Florida.
While rescuers were working to find survivors, the dogs, all wearing blue vests with the words “Please Pet Me,” gave positivity to the injured condo owners. They also lifted the spirits of the brave and hardworking men and women who worked long hours in what was left of the building.
Hardworking canines
The dogs worked tirelessly, moving from one area to another. They visited people in a makeshift memorial near the collapsed structure and went to large tents where the injured were treated. They also checked in at the rest areas reserved for the rescuers.
Every time they arrived, the dogs instantly attracted attention. Instinctively, the people would reach out to them. Some would even hug the Golden Retrievers. Several volunteers also gave out stuffed toys resembling the canines.
They forget their worries and anxiety and enjoy the interaction in those moments. The well-trained dogs may not fix the bigger problems, but they offer genuine relief at the time when it is needed the most.
Source: LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs via Facebook