Lutheran Church Charities

Tag Archives: Lutheran Church Charities

Luther and Ruthie go to Boston

Posted on April 18, 2013 | 2 comments

Luther and Ruthie are two comfort dogs provided by Lutheran Church Charities

Golden Retrievers trained as comfort dogs have arrived in Boston to help with the traumatised survivors of the Boston Marathon bombings.

Just as they did in Newtown, Connecticut last year, the dogs and their handlers will visit with survivors and their families to engage them in conversation, to give them a hug and a cuddle and to provide comfort.

Luther and Ruthie visit with a survivor before surgery for a leg injury (courtesy Lutheran Church Charities)

The comfort dogs show us (again) the special skills that dogs have to provide solace and they also prove that dogs can be socialised and trained to enter public places without causing problems. The volunteers from Lutheran Church Charities give of their time freely.

Thank you!

2 Comments

Posted in Dogs, special dogs and awards

Tagged bombings, Boston, Boston Marathon, golden retrievers, Luther, Lutheran Church Charities, newtown connecticut, Ruthie, volunteer

Comforting those left behind in Connecticut

Posted on December 20, 2012 | 1 comment

Dogs have a connection to many human events. In the case of the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, dogs have helped to provide comfort to the residents left traumatised by the mass shooting there last week.

Comfort dogs, typically Golden Retrievers, have been sent to the area to work with the children and adults to help them through their grief and loss.

The unconditional love and support given by dogs to humans is well documented, with physiological effects such as a lowering of blood pressure proving the impact that petting a dog can have.

Given what has happened in Newtown, any comfort that can be directed to this community will be welcomed.