“Here I Am. Send Me.”: Raising Comfort Dogs, Shaping Hearts

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me.’” – Isaiah 6:8

This powerful verse captures the spirit of the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry Apprentice Trainers who dedicate their hearts and homes to raising the next generation of Comfort Dogs. These remarkable individuals live out God’s call in a very special way—by preparing dogs to bring peace, compassion, and hope wherever they are invited to go.

But before these dogs ever visit a hospital room, walk into a school, or comfort someone in grief, they are nurtured and trained by a dedicated group of volunteers: our Apprentice Trainers.

Training with Purpose
Apprentice Trainers commit to raising a Comfort Dog in training for 18 to 24 months, guiding them through early socialization, obedience training, and consistent daily care. Each dog completes more than 2,000 hours of preparation before being placed in ministry—and behind every hour is a volunteer answering God's call.

Becky Kolzow, an LCC K-9 Trainer for seven years, reflects on just how vital these volunteers are to the mission: “Without the apprentice trainers opening their homes and their hearts... we would not be able to place as many dogs as we do.”

Apprentice Trainers don’t just shape the dogs—they’re shaped by the experience themselves. Patience deepens, faith grows, and hearts open.

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The Blessing of Saying Yes
For Apprentice Trainer Gina Grant, the ministry has become a source of personal strength and spiritual growth: “I have seen firsthand what these amazing dogs do for people in times of crisis and in times of celebration. We build each other up constantly. I am blessed to be part of the LCC K-9 Ministry!”

Apprentice Trainer Chris Jensen sees the process as a way to cultivate the fruits of the Spirit in everyday life: “Being an apprentice trainer helps me grow in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” He hopes one day when he meets Jesus, he’ll hear the words he’s spoken so often to his training dogs: “With Me.”

For Joan B. Katterjohn, a retired teacher, becoming an Apprentice Trainer five years ago was a leap of faith. Since then, she’s helped train seven Comfort Dogs—and found renewed purpose along the way.

She’s seen how God works through these dogs to create moments of connection and healing:
“People just need attention and love. These dogs are just there for you in that moment. That gives me a purpose. It gives me a reason to get up, take the dog out, and help prepare him for something greater.”

Whether in classrooms or community centers, grocery stores or grief groups, Joan has witnessed how Comfort Dogs open hearts. “It’s amazing how many times someone starts petting the dog and then shares something personal. The dog just lets them release that.”

Growing in Faith, Walking in Love

The act of training a Comfort Dog is deeply relational and spiritual. Every walk, every command, every interaction becomes an opportunity to reflect Christ’s love—and be transformed by it.

Gina Grant shared how the ministry has drawn her closer to God:
“This work has helped me focus on how God calls us to serve others with humility and grace. There are days when training is hard, but then I think about what this dog will do one day, and I find strength in prayer and purpose.”

For Chris Jensen, training Comfort Dogs has been a daily spiritual practice:
“When I pray before we head out for training or visits, I’m reminded that we are not just walking a dog—we are walking into someone’s life. I’ve learned to listen better, to be present, and to trust God more fully.”

Faith becomes action, and action deepens faith.

Strengthening Relationships, Building Community
The LCC K-9 Ministry doesn’t just transform the dogs or their trainers—it weaves together a community rooted in love and support.

Joan B. Katterjohn, a retired teacher, found not just purpose, but people:
“I have made deep friendships with other trainers and handlers. We share joys, frustrations, and prayers. You don’t do this work alone—you become part of a family.”

She’s also seen how her connection with each dog has been a bridge to others:
“When people stop to pet the dog, they often open up about personal struggles. It’s a moment of real connection. And I’m always amazed at how God uses those simple interactions to do something powerful.”

Chris echoed that sentiment:
“This ministry has connected me with people I never would have met otherwise—from fellow trainers to the strangers who stop us in the park. Each conversation, each encounter, has reminded me that God is always working.”

Lives Forever Changed
Apprentice Trainers are essential to the mission of Lutheran Church Charities, preparing future Comfort Dogs that will one day walk into the lives of those who need God’s love the most.

Being an Apprentice Trainer means more than teaching a dog to sit, stay, or heel. It means learning to listen to the Holy Spirit, to trust God’s timing, and to love without condition. It’s an invitation to walk by faith—sometimes literally—with a future Comfort Dog by your side.

As apprentice trainer Chris Jensen shared,
“This ministry has changed me. You can’t give this much of yourself and not be changed. God uses these dogs to grow us, just as we help grow them.”

In a world often filled with noise, confusion, and pain, the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry brings a clear message: you are not alone, you are loved, and God sees you. Our trainers help carry that message—one paw, one prayer, one person at a time.

And while the Comfort Dogs go on to serve communities across the country, the trainers are never left unchanged. Their hearts are expanded. Their faith is deepened. Their lives are blessed.
They are ordinary people who choose to say “yes” to an extraordinary calling—and their lives are richer for it.

So when God asks, “Whom shall I send?” They answer—not with hesitation, but with humble courage:
“Here I am. Send me.”

Interested in becoming an Apprentice Trainer?

LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Weekly Training Classes are held in
Northbrook, Illinois and East Dundee, Illinois. 
If you live within 50 miles radius of the training locations and would like more information about the volunteer commitment needed we invite you to learn more.

Visit https://www.lutheranchurchcharities.org/traink9s.html or contact us at [email protected]

You just might find that by raising a Comfort Dog, God raises something new in you too.

Since its founding in 2008, the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry has expanded across the country, with more than 130 dogs placed in churches, schools, and ministries in 27 states.