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Comfort Dogs

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Local Comfort Dogs Bring Love, Healing to Sandy Hook, Newtown Community

Q&A with Comfort Dog Ministry from Hawthorn Woods: "Dogs created a bridge to help bring people back from a dark period and place back into a place where they can begin the healing process."

Ladel, a Comfort Dog from St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Hawthorn Woods returned from Newtown, CT, after a three-day visit, where she helped spread some joy and comfort to children and adults recovering from the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy.  Ladel lives with Pastor Tim Kinne and his wife, Deb. Ladel traveled to Newtown with three handlers, Deb Kinne, Lauraine Morajda and Kylie Yocum. Read about their experience in this Q&A with Deb Kinne:   How many dogs went to Newtown?   Nine full grown and one puppy in training.  One dog turned 1 year old while we were in Connecticut and she is almost ready to be "placed."  The puppy is just 9 weeks old and, you can imagine, he was pretty popular! Which places did you visit?   Ladel visited …

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

St. Matthew Church Comfort Dog Journeys to Newtown

Ladel, a golden retriever, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Hawthorn Woods has been called to service.

  Chicago-area K-9 Comfort Dogs, a ministry from Lutheran Church Charities (LCC), have been aiding in the healing in Newtown, CT, since shortly after the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy occurred. On Jan. 1, Ladel, a Comfort Dog from St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Hawthorn Woods, left with a team of dogs and handlers for Newtown. Ladel was invited to Newtown High School to provide the unconditional love and compassion that define Comfort Dogs. The last months have been busy for Ladel as she recently served in New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy devastated the area. Ladel lives with Senior Pastor Tim Kinne’s family at the parsonage in Mundelein. Deb Kinne, the pastor’s wife and Ladel’s primary handler, said Ladel was the first Comfort Dog …

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