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Comfort dogs sent to assist victims of Orlando massacre
A group of eleven golden retrievers are on their way to Orlando to help comfort victims of the horrific shooting on the weekend, which killed 50 (including gunman Omar Mateen) and injured 53.
The therapy dogs are part of the Lutheran Church Charities’ K-9 Comfort Dogs program and have come together from 7 states in the US to offer their services to the survivors.
President of the Lutheran Church Charities Tim Hetzner believes the pooches will be a huge help in the aftermath of such a trauma. “They’re like a furry counsel,” he tells the Huffington Post. “They’re not judgmental and they’re good listeners, which is good because talking is an important part of healing process. It allows people to process what happened.”
After starting the program in 2008, the dogs have been an essential source of comfort in tragedies such as the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and the Boston Marathon bombing of 2013. There are now more than 100 dogs in the organisation. “We go where we’re invited and we don’t charge the people we serve,” Hetzner adds.
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It’s no mean feat to become a comfort dog, however. Each pup has to undergo between 12 and 14 months of professional training from the age of just 8 weeks old. “Our dogs have to be able to relate with all age groups and stay calm in all circumstances,” Hetzner explains. He believes golden retrievers are the perfect breed for the job as they’re naturally loving and gentle. “Also, because of their fur, they leave a little of themselves with everyone they meet.”
Tell us in the comments below, how has your four-legged friend comforted you in a time of need?
Related links:
Orlando shooting survivor pens powerful open letter to gunman
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