LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Helping Craughwell Elementary Heal after Tragic Loss of Young Mother

Last week LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry received a request from the Executive Director of Students Services at Troy Craughwell Elementary School in Joliet, Illinois, to be there for students and staff on Tuesday and Wednesday who were struck by a horrific event in their school community. A young mother named Melissa was tragically killed right outside of her home where she lived with her three precious children. 

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Jael (Trinity - Hobart, Indiana), Michael (LCC Staff),  Samson (Zion - Marengo, Illinois), LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Nigel (LCC Staff), and LCC K-9 Comfort Dog in Training Saul were there for the students and staff as they continued to process the shock, loss, and grief of this tragedy.

Both of Melissa’s two children, one in third grade and one in fourth who attend Craughwell Elementary, returned to school on Tuesday. The LCC K-9 Ministry teams made sure each Comfort Dog spent time with Melissa’s two children along with the students, teachers, and other staff. 

During this visit, there was one boy who cried for over an hour with his counselors. He then went over to the table where there were activities to help the children. Samson Comfort Dog and his handlers went over and stood by him at the table and within minutes the boy stopped crying.  The young boy petted Samson and took comfort in the love, warmth, and safety Samson offered willingly.

---

The Comfort Dog team spent much-needed time with the teachers who were carrying the weight of Melissa’s loss and how the tragedy affected their students. The love and care the teachers have for their students and families was evident to the teams of Jael, Michael, Nigel, Samson, and Saul. 

LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry received this note from Michelle Laird, Executive Director of Students Services:

We are so grateful for the support that your organization has provided to our children and staff.  I have received nothing but positive feedback about the comfort and care they each have felt.  It has definitely been a bright spot in a very traumatic time for our community.  
Again, thank you for your quick response times, your flexibility, and the grace you have shown our school community. 
Thank you,
Michelle 

LEARN MORE & DONATE – LCC K-9 COMFORT DOG MINISTRY