In a Shaken Orlando, Comfort Dogs Arrive With ‘Unconditional Love’

[brooklynite]

The New York Times:

On the Monday following the Orlando massacre, 12 golden retrievers arrived in the Florida city.

They had come to offer comfort to some of the victims of the attack, the families of those killed and the emergency medical workers, as well as anyone else in the city in need of some canine affection after the deadliest shooting in American history.

The animals are part of the K-9 Comfort Dogs team, a program run by the Lutheran Church Charities, based in Northbrook, Ill. Founded in 2008, the team has comforted victims of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting.

Tim Hetzner, the president of the charity, said that the dogs in Orlando were helping to provide a feeling of safety, allowing those in distress to relax their guard and express their vulnerability during a difficult time.

[PearliePoo2]

1. Oh man, that photo....

really gets to me. Beyond a lump in my throat
This is going on my Facebook page right now.

[irisblue]

2. golden retrievers are so good to & for humans

[shenmue]

3. Who's chopping onions?

[wryter2000]

4. It has to be difficult for the dogs

Dogs can sense human emotions.

[SpankMe]

5. This comfort dog thing is amazing

I encountered a comfort dog in the waiting room of a massage therapist I was visiting. This dog (a large poodle) had an amazing affect on me - calmed me down even more than I was already. By the time the massage started, I was practially in a trance, I was so calm and relaxed.

I know my context is different from what the Olando people are experiencing. But, dogs for calming and comforting have al kinds of uses and benefits.

I don't know how a dog gets trained to be this way. But, it is almost magical.