Among bereaved parents, K-9s bring calm presence

Every year at the Bereaved Parents of the USA National Gathering, emotions run strong as attendees seek a way to find peace amid their grief.  

And at the 2026 event, last weekend in Pittsburgh, PA, the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs were invited again to bring stillness, calm, hope — and their “golden glitter.”  

Three K-9 Comfort Dog teams from three states — Abraham Comfort Dog (Trinity – Hicksville, NY), Honey Comfort Dog (St. Paul – Westlake, OH), and Kezia Comfort Dog (Emmanuel – Baltimore, MD) — answered the call to attend the conference to share God's love through their peaceful presence and unexplainable compassion.

Each year, the K-9 Comfort Dogs are a welcome sight among all ages, event organizers said.

“LCC’s Comfort Dogs have been providing that comfort at our events and they are requested every year,” they said. “I love seeing the pictures of one of our attendees hugging the dogs, sometimes it is the comfort another human cannot provide. Adults, bereaved parents, grandparents and siblings.”

Throughout the conference, the Comfort Dogs and their handlers spent time with parents and families grieving the loss of a child, offering a listening ear, gentle comfort, and moments of peace during a deeply emotional event. 

“We are grateful for the opportunity to serve those carrying profound grief and pray that each person experienced hope, comfort, and the reminder that they are not alone,” said Donna Haines with Team Abraham Comfort Dog. 

Throughout the Gathering, the teams were reminded of Jesus’ words from the Sermon on the Mount: 

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." -- Matthew 5:4

One of the handlers recalled a woman attendee who attended the Gathering for the first time. 

She shared that she was away on a business trip when her daughter died. She had left her with her husband and believed that she only had a cold. But it turned into something much worse and she passed away. 

“She didn’t know what to expect, and she appreciated the support that was surrounding her because her husband is still struggling, as she is as well,” Haines said.

The K-9 teams also met a vendor who had created a camp for siblings, so they might experience support. Many campers struggle with survivors’ guilt, and the camp organizers help the children through their grief and deepen their understanding. 
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