LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and Hearts of Mercy & Compassion Immediately Responded to Serve Families and First Responders Following Mass Shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas

6/1/2022

19 Students & 3 Adults Killed
Many Injured and Traumatized

"For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." Isaiah 41:13

This week LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Cubby and Devorah (Redeemer – Fort Collins, Colorado), Gabriel (Messiah – Houston, Texas), Joy (Gloria Dei – Houston, Texas), Triton (Messiah – Plano, Texas), LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs Abner (Bethany – Austin, Texas), Miriam (Emmanuel – Kingfisher, Oklahoma), and LCC K-9 Police Ministry Dog Elijah (Our Redeemer – Wichita Falls, Texas) and their handlers have served Uvalde with a calming, loving, and compassionate presence.

The K-9 Ministry teams brought with them twenty-one Hearts of Mercy & Compassion (HMC) and crosses, one for each of the victims of this tragedy. Each Heart of Mercy & Compassion bears the name of a child or teacher killed and the bible verse Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

The HMC and crosses are in remembrance of each of those beautiful lives and for people to share messages and prayers of love, hope, and sorrow. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and teams cannot erase the memories or replace the grief that is felt but they can share the love, empathy, and light of Christ with them.

The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs spent time with families at the school memorial site and the Town Square where people gathered to grieve. At the Town Square, some of the handlers helped parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles whose tears quietly flowed as they tried to find their child’s cross. To be with the grieving was what was needed at that moment. The Comfort Dogs brought comfort and distraction from the thoughts and emotions that flooded the grieving.

As people touched and looked at Abner, Cubby, Devorah, Elijah, Gabriel, Joy, Miriam, or Triton, it soothed them even if it was just for a while. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and their handlers sat with the people and heard their stories, or sat with them in their silence. The handlers offered prayers that were readily accepted.

The Comfort Dogs were on call for special visits with those directly affected by the shooting. The teams also spent time with the community at a local store where families went to get away from the media attention that descended on their small town. The people quickly sought out the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs for their quiet gentleness and love.

On Tuesday, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Keren (Immanuel – Ellsworth, Kansas), Pax and Phoebe (St. Paul – Fort Worth, Texas), LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Job (Christ the King – Memphis, Tennessee), LCC K-9 Police Ministry Dog Persis (King of Kings – Glenpool, Oklahoma), and their handlers arrived in Uvalde as the need is still there for the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need.

We lift up Uvalde in prayer for God’s strength, peace, and healing.

LCC's K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry and Hearts of Mercy & Compassion Ministry never charge 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.

DONATE — LCC K-9 TRAVEL FUND

DONATE — HEARTS OF MERCY & COMPASSION