Comfort Dogs

K-9 Comfort Dog Calendar from Holy Cross in Portage, Indiana

At the end of this school year K-9 Comfort Dog Prince, serving at Portage High School in Portage, Indiana, is planning to retire. Holy Cross is Prince's home church and they are planning to replace Prince with a new LCC K-9 Comfort Dog.

Holy Cross has produced a 2013 calendar featuring K-9 Comfort Dogs Barnabas and Prince in action. Sales of the calendar will go to raise funds for the new K-9 Comfort Dog that will serve at Portage High School. Pastor Tim Engel asked us to share this announcement:

Spend 2013 with Prince and Barnabas, the Comfort Dogs of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Portage, Indiana. Each month features photos of the dogs making a difference in the Portage community. The calendars also make great Christmas gifts for the dog lovers in your life. Each calendar costs $12 (including shipping).

Click here to order your 2013 K-9 Calendar

Last Updated on Wednesday, 14 November 2012 16:25

K-9 Darlin' Visits Immanuel Mokena for Church and Sunday School

Barb Belanski of Immanuel Mokena sent in the following report...

Immanuel in Mokena was privileged to have Elliott Fasel and Darlin' visit our church and Sunday School on November 11th. Everyone loved Darlin;......young and old alike.......and Elliott enjoyed telling Darlin's story over and over in addition to handing out her 'business card.' Our Sunday School was making get well cards as well as cards for our veterans so it was an appropriate setting for Darlin's visit. Attached are a few photos.

An awesome ministry ........thank you.

Blessings,
Barb Belanski
Immanuel, Mokena, 10731 W. LaPorte Road

Last Updated on Thursday, 29 November 2012 09:22

K-9 Comfort Dogs Visit Developmentally Disabled Students at Eastview Elementary in Algonquin

K-9 Comfort Dogs Kye, Star, Addi, Adeena, JoJo, Butter and Ruthie visited Eastview Elementary School in Algonquin last Friday. Two classrooms of students with Developmental Disabilities were very excited to visit with the K-9 Comfort Dogs. In preparing the children for the Comfort Dog visit their teachers read books about working dogs. Then the students prepared questions to ask the handlers about the dogs. Our time ended with the students giving each dog a nyla bone to take home and a donation from the teachers.

Thanks to all our K-9 Friends at Eastview.

K-9 Butter Reports Another Busy Week

Last Thursday I attended the seventh session of Healing 101. Debbie and I saw our friends at Crystal Pines on Saturday. Sunday morning I was at church. I went to see Mary Jane on Tuesday after T'ai Chi. This past Thursday I helped Club 55 as they visited Elisabeth at her home (She has a cat!) and members at Eastgate. I was petted by staff people and residents coming through the lobby. Such a nice place!

K-9 Comfort Dogs Visit VFW Post 311 in Richton Park

On Saturday November 17th K-9 Comfort Dogs Ruthie, Shami and Darlin' accompanied by LCC Staff member Rich Martin, and handlers Toni Bazon and Elliott Fasel visited with veterans at VFW Post 311 in Richton Park.

The veterans were there to learn about the sometimes challenging process of receiving their benefits. Experts from the state and federal agencies provided much needed help and guidance for our heroes. Well done VFW Post 311.

Holy Cross Portage, Indiana LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministries Given Chamber of Commerce Award

K-9 Comfort Dogs Prince and Barnabas were special guests at the November 17 Greater Portage Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet. The annual event honors individuals, organizations, and businesses for their contributions to the Portage community and Northwest Indiana.

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,

"There will be more than enough work in Portage to keep all three dogs busy. They will each help our church bring Christ to our community."

Last Updated on Tuesday, 20 November 2012 16:36

K-9 Comfort Dogs Return from Successful Visit to East Coast - Others Invited

K-9 Comfort Dogs Ladel, Chloe and Barnabas have returned safely home from their visit to the East Coast along with handlers Deb Kinne, Pastor Phil Ressler and Pastor Tim Engel. They visited several locations throughout last week. One of their visits took them to Holy Cross Nursery School in Mahwah, New Jersey. Everyone loved the Comfort Dogs and sent out an announcement to their church community about the visit and the work of LCC.

LCC would like to deploy additional teams of K-9 Comfort Dogs and handlers to New York and New Jersey. If you are a K-9 handler for your church's K-9 Comfort Dog, consider planning a trip and register with us. We are collecting names and available dates at this time.

Click here to volunteer for a K-9 Comfort Dog trip to the East coast
Click here to donate to Superstorm Sandy Recovery

Last Updated on Wednesday, 14 November 2012 16:47

K-9's Add Comfort to The Clinic at Trinity Roselle

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs came together to give comfort to the hundreds of people that showed up for the 6th Annual Clinic at Trinity Roselle. K-9's Olympia, Ruthie, Tara, Wave, JoJo, Adeena, Star, Kye, and Addie with their handlers, provided comfort to young and old alike at this wonderful community outreach event. A warm meal, clothing, medical assistance and spiritual care were just some of the services provided to families in need.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 13 November 2012 13:16

K-9 Comfort Dogs Arrive in Queens, New York and Help Bring the Compassion of Christ to New York and New Jersey

On Monday, November 5, Deb Kinne from St. Matthew Hawthorn Woods, Pastor Phil Ressler from Lord of Life LaFox, and Pastor Tim Engel from Holy Cross, Portage, Indiana traveled with K-9 Comfort Dogs Ladel, Chloe and Barnabas to Queens, New York. From there they will be visiting storm victims in New York and New Jersey this week, returning home on Friday.

They visited Pastor Dennis Rockett at Holy Cross Lutheran Church and Nursery School in Mahwah, New Jersey on Tuesday. There are plans to visit area shelters and bring comfort to those displaced by Sandy. Please keep this team in your prayers for safety and open doors to share the Gospel.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 07 November 2012 15:32

Comfort Dogs Attend Thanksgiving Outreach Event at St. John, Island Lake

St. John Lutheran Church in Island Lake held their 2nd Annual Thanksgiving community outreach dinner on Sunday November 4th. LCC staff Marie Payes and Rich Martin with Comfort Dogs Tara and Ruthie were joined by handlers Tranetta Mc Comb with Star and John Fisher with Butter to greet the congregation members and their guests. The traditional Thanksgiving meal was cooked to perfection.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 07 November 2012 15:30

Teacher with Autistic Children Thanks Comfort Dog Shami for Changing Lives

LCC recently received the following note from Kim Rothstein, the teacher who works with autistic children in the classroom where Comfort Dog Shami regularly visits.

Ephesians 3:20 "Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think."

"This verse sums up what Shami has been able to do with my students, and how God works his miracles every day. If we trust and follow him we will sure accomplish many things. Shami has come to visit my classroom twice now. I have six students in a self-contained Autism classroom. Out of the six, four of them are considered non-verbal. In the two times that Shami has come, we have seen small miracles. We have seen students who do not interact with adults or peers, interact with Shami. We have seen spontaneous language from students who do not speak regularly. There are no words to describe the impact that Shami has had on our students. Her calm, gentle, and loving manner enlightens our students and reaches them where we cannot. Shami has brought out the very best my students have to offer and more. God continues to work through Shami, and it brings such love and joy to my heart. We are so grateful for this opportunity God has provided for us."

Last Updated on Wednesday, 07 November 2012 15:31

Butter Report

Last Thursday Christine took me to the fifth session of Healing 101. Debbie and I visited Crystal Pines on Saturday. Sunday morning I was at church. In the afternoon, Anna and I greeted families coming to the Confirmation Service. I spent time with Mary Jane on Monday. Thank you to Debbie, Cliff, and my special friend Otis for a fun weekend while Liz was out of town.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 07 November 2012 15:30

Comfort Dogs Star, Barnabas and Prince Attend Fundraiser in Portage Indiana

On Saturday, November 3rd, Comfort Dogs Barnabas, Prince and Star were all on hand with their handlers for the Hot Dog and Chili Fundraiser Dinner put on to raise funds for an additional Comfort Dog for Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Portage. Prince, who works primarily at Portage High School, will be semi-retiring at the end of this school year. The new dog will work full time at Portage High School with the counselors starting the 2013-2014 school year.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 07 November 2012 15:31

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and Staff Attend Beautiful Feet Conference

Last week LCC staff members Tim Kurth and Dona Martin, along with volunteer Lynn Buhrke, traveled to Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon for the annual Beautiful Feet Missions Conference. K-9 Comfort Dogs Luther and Chewie, along with Comfort Dog in training Ruthie, went along. Over 200 students from Concordia Universities and Colleges around the country came for the three day conference to learn about mission opportunities all around the world. The Comfort Dogs were very popular with all the students who also enjoyed learning about the ministry of LCC.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 07 November 2012 15:32

Shami Makes the Rounds of Shelters, Hospitals and Classrooms

Shami visited the Women and Children's Shelter October 23rd. Many of the children were getting ready for Halloween and loved showing Shami their costumes. Shami sat with a young girl and her brother while they were working on their homework. They read Shami a book all about reptiles, which she really enjoyed, especially the cool pictures!

Shami visited Hinsdale Hospital last Wednesday night. The nurses were so thrilled to see her and she received numerous requests to visit with patients throughout the hospital. The five year-old daughter of one of the patients was so thrilled to meet "Luther's friend". She spent a good deal of time with her new friend and is hoping for another visit! Shami also found time to visit with several of the hospital staff members.

K9 Shami Hospital Shelter School

Jolene Bazon accompanied Shami to visit with the autistic children again on Thursday, October 25th. The children spent time petting Shami and then had an opportunity to play ball with her. The children were thrilled that Shami brought the ball back to them repeatedly. Looks like they wore Shami out! Shami will continue to visit with the children, as they have responded in such a positive manner to her visits.