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,