LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry Partners with Loveland Police Department to Bring Calm and Stress Relief to First Responders

“The interaction with the [LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs] opened the door for [Police Officers] to open their hearts and to begin to really recognize that it was okay to be impacted by the tremendous and impactful work that they do.” Tim Brown, Assistant Chief of Police of the Loveland Police Department, Colorado

"May the Lord answer you when you are in distress…May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support." (Psalm 20:1-5)

"Sure, bring [Cubby] in," Tim Brown, Assistant Chief of Police of the Loveland (CO) Police Department, said to Bonnie Fear, a handler for LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Cubby (Redeemer – Fort Collins, Colorado), over the phone. That one conversation a few years ago, and his response, started a relationship between the Loveland PD and LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry that continues today. 

"We were looking for places to take Cubby, and one of the areas we wanted to tap was the first responders and the police station," said Bonnie, LCC K-9 Crisis Response Coordinator. "Tim bonded with Cubby right away. And then we just left the door open. He didn't schedule anything, but whenever I had an opening, I would ask if it would be okay if we brought Cubby, and his answer was always 'absolutely’. That became like an open-door visit."

Nowadays, many law enforcement officers feel less support from their communities and have ranked wellness and morale as one of the biggest challenges in 2022.* First responders are under an incredible amount of stress

Since partnering with the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry, Tim Brown has seen a shift in the department. Interacting with the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs has helped officers open up about the emotional impact of their work.

"You could see people building walls as they experience different events. When the comfort dogs began to come and visit, we saw a lot of those walls begin to just drop. The interaction with the dogs sort of opened the door for them to open their hearts and begin to really recognize that it was okay to be impacted by their tremendous and impactful work," Tim shared. 
 
Bringing the Comfort Dogs to the police station and the dispatch center facilitated those conversations, recognizing that every day is stressful. 

"I see the dogs and their handlers come into the dispatch center, and all the people curled up and stuck with their headphones take that moment actually to breathe and relax. As they pet the dog, you just see there's a transfer of love and compassion about what's going on," Tim said. 

The comfort dogs definitely have a calming effect. The body of scientific research clearly indicates the calming effects of petting a dog can contribute to lowering blood pressure and reducing heart rates. They also help with improving mood and allowing responders to focus on communities they serve.
 
"We have regularly scheduled appointments every month, and we show up, and they look forward to it. It makes their day. We want to be there for them. They want to hold these dogs, and they want to lay on the floor with them. That is so meaningful for their mental health, their workday to be with the dog to bring the release of whatever they're experiencing. They can't thank us enough for showing up," shares Bonnie.

Law Enforcement Officers use the love and the care they receive from LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams to support their communities in powerful ways. 

"The commitment, love, and sense of belonging that comes from the shared partnership between first responders and the LCC program with their comfort dogs is overwhelming. The faith and love you share with your community members cannot be measured and cannot be overstated. So, it is as minimal as those words sound. Thank you so much for all that you do, for all that you've done, and for all that you'll continue to do for all of the folks in your communities and the members of God's world," Tim said.

The LCC K-9 Ministry embraces the unique, calming nature and skills of AKC Purebred Golden Retrievers to interact with people of all ages and circumstances. LCC trains Comfort Dogs and handlers who serve every day in their local communities. When invited, they are also deployed in times of disaster and crisis to bring comfort to all those affected.

​LCC currently has over 130 LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs serving in 27 states.
 
* Chief Joel F. Shults, Ed.D. (December 15, 2022) What officers said were the biggest challenges of 2022 (and why leaders should pay attention), Police 1

Thank you for BEING THERE with LCC to make a difference
in the lives of First Responders serving their communities.

GIVE YOUR GIFT TO BE THERE WITH LCC TO HELP OTHERS

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This video shows how interacting with the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs has helped Loveland PD officers open up about the emotional impact of their work.