Comfort Dogs To Boston

Comfort Dogs Come to Boston in the Wake of Tragedy
By Danielle Sullivan on Babble.com. From Yahoo.
18 April 2013

Back in December, I wrote about dogs who are specially trained to assist in post-traumatic stress situations when they went to console the people of Newtown, Connecticut. Known as the Comfort Dogs for Lutheran Church Charities, the dogs are specially trained to interact with people in disaster situations. Now, they have arrived in Boston to comfort its devastated community.

Tim Hetzner, president of Lutheran Church Charities, says the dogs will stay at least until Sunday.

The dogs will be stationed at First Lutheran Church, which is within a few blocks from the finish line where the bombings took place. Hetzner and his team also hope to visit over 100 victims still in hospitals, and says the dogs bring much needed therapy to the frightened and injured:

Related: 7 inspiring stories of dogs that saved their owners

“They bring a calming effect to people and help them process the various emotions that they go through in times like this. “People talk to the dogs – they’re like furry counselors. It’s a chance to help bring some relief to people that are shaken up because of the bombings.”

Read complete story at Yahoo.com
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Help Congress Stand Up

Dear Gabriel,

Less than four months ago, the community of Newtown, Conn. suffered an unspeakable tragedy. Their world was shattered – just like the hundreds of other communities who have witnessed the scourge of gun violence. Stand with the clergy of Newtown in speaking out against rising gun violence across the country.

Nothing any of us do will ever bring back those killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School. As a nation, all we can do is make sure we prevent the next tragedy. The religious leaders of Newtown have spoken out to demand that Congress take action immediately, and pass legislation that will stop the slaughter. It is time that we stood with them.

Newtown does not want be remembered as a town of tragedy, but as a bridge to a new and kinder world. Sign the petition today, and send a message to Congress that you stand with the clergy of Newtown.

Thank you for all you do,

Jay C.
Care2 and ThePetitionSite Team

Call Today

Dear Gabriel,

My son Blair was murdered with a gun on his way home from school. He was riding a Chicago city bus, and he was caught in the crossfire of a gang shooting just a few days before Mother’s Day.

Newtown, Connecticut doesn’t look a lot like the South Side of Chicago. But when I hear the stories of Newtown families, I am familiar with their pain.

One month has passed since the heartbreaking mass shooting that took the lives of twenty first-graders and six adults. No community should have to go through that kind of terror, and no parent should have to feel so much loss.

Please join me and the families of other gun violence victims in saying: ENOUGH.

We recorded a new TV ad to Demand A Plan from our leaders in Congress.

Take a minute to watch the ad and call your members of Congress RIGHT NOW.

Today, more than forty mayors across the country organized events with law enforcement officials, faith leaders and survivors of gun violence to commemorate the tragedy at Newtown and demand action from our elected leaders in Washington.

More than a million people have signed the Demand A Plan petition calling on President Obama and Congress to step forward with a real plan to end gun violence.

But our leaders need to hear our voices every day. Please watch our new TV ad and make a call TODAY:

http://DemandAPlan.org/ENOUGH

I’ve met parents and loved ones of gun violence victims from all across the country. We share a connection because of the pain we’ve all been through, and we can offer each other some comfort and understanding. But there’s nothing that would make us happier than never adding a new member to our group ever again.

Thirty-three people are murdered with guns every day in America — sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers. We’ve had ENOUGH and it’s time for our leaders in Congress to act.

Thank you for calling your members of Congress to Demand A Plan,

Annette Nance-Holt
Mayors Against Illegal Guns