K9 Comfort Dogs Help Ease Pain Following Orlando Tragedy

In the worst of times, our pets can really bring a smile to our face. One group has taken that bond between people and dogs down to Orlando, Florida to help those suffering from the tragic terror attack at Pulse Nightclub this past Sunday.

The Lutheran Church Charities K9 Comfort Dogs is a non-profit organization that has made its way down to Orlando to offer assistance to anyone in need of comfort following the mass shooting that left 49 dead, and 53 more injured.

“The Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dogs are in #Orlando‬ to provide comfort to all those who are hurting and suffering,” a post shared on Facebook said.

According to their Facebook page, the group travels only when invited and never charges those they hope to serve. The group raises travel funds through donations on their travel page.

In an interview with ABC News, president of LCC Comfort Dogs, Tim Hetzner, said, “They help people relax and calm down.”

“Your blood pressure goes down when you pet a dog,” Hetzner added, “you feel more comfortable, and people end up talking.”

“They’re good listeners,” Hetzner says about the dogs. “They’re non-judgmental, they’re confidential.”

The program has been around since 2008, ABC reported. They now have over 100 dogs in 23 states. The group was on-hand after the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, and the Boston Marathon bombing.

If you’d like to donate, please head to their donation page today. For now, even just these pictures can help all of us struggling to come to terms with another senseless act of violence.