On Christmas Eve, December 24, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Gideon (St. Michael’s – Bloomington, Minnesota) received a surprise. While it was Christmas Eve in Minnesota, it was Christmas Day in the Middle East. Gideon Comfort Dog’s friend, Soph, and her family opened Christmas gifts together via Skype (her Dad is on deployment). He was so surprised when he received the photo of the Christmas boxes they sent to their Dad showing a Gideon stuffie for him. Gideon Comfort Dog can’t go to visit him, but he is thankful there are LCC K-9 Comfort Dog “Stuffed Paws” on the ground in Kuwait to comfort during deployment.

Please continue prayers for this wonderful family as they walk through their time apart.

On Tuesday, December 18, LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Brutus (LCC Squad) and veteran Gene recently visited Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, Illinois. Kare 9 Brutus helped the students relieve their stress and anxiety during finals week. The students were thrilled to see Kare 9 Brutus and take advantage of his special kind of love and comfort.

On Friday, December 14, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Abbi (Elim Christian School – Palos Heights, Illinois) and LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Brutus (LCC Squad) set up in the Literacy Lab at Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park, Illinois, to help students and staff relieve the stress and anxiety of finals week. Students lined up to get a chance to see the LCC K-9s. Some even skipped lunch (a hard thing for teenagers to do) to be able to get their chance to receive the mercy and compassion that LCC K-9s can deliver.

Kare 9s Britta and Blitz (LCC Squad) attended the Veteran Wreath Ceremony at St Peter Lutheran Church in Schaumburg, Illinois on Saturday, December 8th. The ceremony is an annual event at St. Peter to honor veterans whose final resting place is in the church cemetery. The Kare 9s and their veterans handlers laid wreaths at the graves of veterans and offered comfort to those who attended.

The LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry was front and center at the 88th Readiness Division Yellow Ribbon Pre-Deployment ceremony in Schaumburg, Illinois this past weekend. The Yellow Ribbon is part of the training and preparedness offered to Army Reservists before they deploy. Among the many vendors and service providers, the Kare 9 area was always the most visited during break times. Kare 9s Brandy, Britta, Blitz, Flex, Brutus (LCC Squad) and Levi (Immanuel – East Dundee, Illinois) offered the comfort these soldiers needed as they faced separation from family and friends.

The need for time to de-stress is something the LCC K-9s help others do on a regular basis. On Wednesday, December 5, Elgin Community College invited LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Levi (Immanuel – East Dundee, Illinois), Chloe (Lord of Life – Elburn, Illinois), and LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Brutus (LCC Squad) to assist students and staff during finals week. The K-9s had many opportunities to bring comfort and stress relief.

On Tuesday, December 4, the LCC K-9 Ministry took part in the Prospect High School Health Fair in Prospect, Illinois. LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Tobias (Lord of Glory – Grayslake, Illinois), Levi (Immanuel – East Dundee, Illinois), Asher (Faith Lutheran – Lake Forest, Illinois), and Hannah (LCC Staff) joined LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs Brandy, Brutus, and Flex (LCC Squad) at the health fair. Students spent one class hour visiting the various vendors, including the Comfort and Kare 9 Dogs, and completed an assignment they were given. The K-9s brought mercy, compassion, and love to students and staff alike.

On Friday, November 30, LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Brutus and Veteran handler Gene recently visited the Holland Home in South Holland, Illinois. The residents and staff gathered in the activity room to meet them and share stories of their dogs, and the love and compassion they received from them. It was special when Kare 9 Brutus had the chance to spend time a USMC Veteran and hear his recollections of service to our country.