Redeemer Lutheran’s LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Bring Comfort and Healing to Fort Collins, CO, Community5/12/2025
 Healing Hearts in a Time of Tragedy The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry team from Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fort Collins, Colorado, continues to make a profound impact by sharing God’s love and comfort with those facing heartbreak and grief. Recently, the team, including Comfort Dogs Devorah and Zacchaeus, visited North Valley Middle School, located just 30 minutes from the church, after the school community suffered the loss of a beloved 7th-grade teacher in a tragic car accident. The comfort dogs spent the day with students, staff, and teachers, offering solace in the wake of an unimaginable loss. In the school’s cafeteria, they engaged with students in grades 6-8, creating small moments of peace amidst the sadness. Teachers shared heartwarming stories of the teacher, Ms. Schwarz, while the students, deeply affected by the loss, found comfort in the presence of the dogs.
Reflecting on this moving experience, the team offered words of hope drawn from Ephesians 3:18, reminding the grieving community of the immeasurable love of God: “And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.” Gratitude and Community Impact The impact of the Comfort Dogs was felt deeply, not just by the students but by the entire North Valley Middle School staff. In a heartfelt letter to the ministry, Chief of Police Kenny Fernandez expressed his gratitude for the team’s presence during such a difficult time. His words underscored the profound healing power of simply being there for people when they are at their most vulnerable. “Your team being there for our people in a time of shocking, unimaginable grief is a debt we can never repay,” wrote Fernandez. “Words cannot express what the act of just being there meant.” The school’s staff, too, echoed similar sentiments, as they were moved by the genuine care and comfort provided by the Comfort Dog team. A Growing Presence at Colorado State University  The Redeemer Lutheran LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry team’s efforts extend beyond middle schools to the broader community, including Colorado State University (CSU). Devorah and Zacchaeus make regular visits to the CSU Police Department, the 911 call center, and veterinary students. They are also part of the bi-monthly “Comfort Dogs with Cops” event, where hundreds of CSU students interact with the dogs and their handlers. In recognition of their ongoing efforts to foster community and offer support, the team was honored with the Colorado State University Police Department’s Community Partnership Award for 2024-2025. This award was presented during a special celebration banquet on campus, where the Comfort Dogs and their handlers were recognized for their dedication to serving the campus community. You can read more about the event on Facebook. Devorah and Zacchaeus have also been called upon for emergency site visits, bringing comfort to students, faculty, and first responders during times of crisis. Their ability to provide a sense of calm during high-stress situations has been invaluable, and their regular presence on campus continues to strengthen the bond between the university and the Redeemer Lutheran K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry.
SPECIAL APPEAL: LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry Teams Deploy Today after shooting in Boulder, Colorado3/23/2021
 On the afternoon of Monday, March 22, 10 people were killed, including a Boulder Police Officer, and employees and shoppers traumatized when an individual began randomly shooting in the store. Schools in the area were immediately put on secure lockdown and residents instructed to shelter in place during the incident and investigation. In less than 24 hours, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs were invited and will be on-site to be present throughout the community with employees, residents, and first responders who are trying to cope with this senseless tragedy.  Tim Hetzner, LCC President/CEO, and LCC Director of K-9 Ministries, Anastasia, are working with Bonnie Fear, LCC K-9 Director of Crisis Deployment. Bonnie, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Cubby and Devorah (Redeemer – Fort Collins, Colorado) and their ministry teams were in Boulder Tuesday afternoon to help people who are shocked and trying to process this horrific event. Upon arrival, Comfort Dogs Cubby and Devorah brought much needed smiles and comfort to the Alpha Phi and Chi Omega Sorority Houses on the University of Colorado Boulder Campus, which has 35,338 students. LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Eddie (Peace – Grand Island, Nebraska), Joanna (Christ – Lincoln, Nebraska), Katie (Trinity – Fremont, Nebraska), and Priscilla (Trinity – Lincoln, Nebraska), along with their ministry teams, will arrive Wednesday to help bring comfort and hope to all who are grieving.  Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley heroically died in the line of duty and is survived by his wife and seven children. His father stated that he took his job as a police officer very seriously, loved his family more than anything, and he believed in Jesus Christ. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry never charges those we serve as we bring the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need. We know that comfort is needed to help this shocked and devastated community and the first responders who serve them. Please join LCC in keeping the families, first responders, and the community in your prayers as they move through these extremely trying times. |
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