K-9s comfort friends, family of 17-year-old student

More than 10 LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs came together in August to help friends and family members of a Barrington, IL, young man whose life was taken way too soon deal with their loss and grief. The soon-to-be senior, Colin, was an avid animal lover, a car and motorcycle enthusiast, and an aspiring police officer. “It was obvious that the young man had lots of interests and skills,” noted Jenni Hoffmeyer, Top Dog for Comfort Dog Tobias (Lord of Glory - Grayslake, IL). Joining him were Comfort Dogs Abednego (Immanuel - Crystal Lake, IL), Believe (Brookfield - Brookfield, IL), Bethesda (St. Matthew - Hawthorn Woods, IL), Charity (Brookfield - Brookfield, IL), Gethsemane (Lord of Glory - Grayslake, IL), Julia (King of Glory - Elgin, IL), Mary (St. Paul's - Janesville, WI), Rejoice (St. Paul's - Janesville, WI), and Shadrach (Prince of Peace - Palatine, IL). ​

The dogs and their handlers provided soothing calm throughout the visitation for Colin. Many of his friends were devastated by the loss of their classmate, and the gentle presence of the dogs provided a moment for them to breathe and express their grief.

Jenni Hoffmeyer noted that through talking with several of Colin’s friends and family, it was obvious that the young man had a lot of interests and skills. He worked at Yuppie Puppie Grooming where he was training to be a dog groomer, and one of his co-workers mentioned that Colin, who was incredibly handy and mechanically inclined, also fixed her car. 

“That’s impressive for a 17-year-old,” said Jenni. “I sensed he was a very special person.”

In addition to Tobias, other K-9 Comfort Dogs who provided care were Charity with handlers Patty Kilvinger and Debbie Endres, Believe with handlers Jeff and Keri Yesko, Bethesda with handlers Lea Kelly and Sheils Trossman, Rejoice with handlers Denise and Pete Skelly, Shadrach with handlers Kris Ahlgrim and Ruthann McShane. Gethsemane with handlers Sarah Chang and Michele Kagay, Samson with handlers Becky and Jim Miller, Mary with handlers Gary Sullivan and Tom Skelly, Abednego with handlers Robert Blazek and Vicki Rohe, and Julia with handlers Mat and Ninette Ponsolle. 

Ninette Ponsolle, Julia’s handler, talked with Colin’s stepmother, the owner of Yuppie Puppy, who said the 17-year-old was great with dogs and loved his job very much. “The staff loved having Colin around and they often joked with him both in and out of work,” she noted. 

Colin will be greatly missed by everyone whose life he touched. For his friends, having to experience the death of one of their own was heart-wrenching.

“It’s a lot to deal with at such a precious time in their lives,” says Jenni.  “May God be with them as they mourn their loss and look to the future.”
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Colin’s mother will be given a Heart of Mercy and Compassion heart to help her through the loss of her son. The inscription will read: “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” Rom. 14:19.