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Addie, a golden retriever, spends four days a week at the school. Her sister, Maggie, another Comfort Dog, relieves Addie once or twice a week. Both Addie and Maggie are fully trained Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dogs. They are trained to be there for people in need, offering their calming presence to help those in stressful situations.
Addie and Maggie also traveled to Boston after the Boston Marathon bombing in April. A gunman killed 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary in December.
“Every single student in the school knows these dogs,’’ said Jen Marr, a trained handler of the dogs. “They just love them.”
Marr, Addie and Maggie were part of an inspiration station Saturday at Spring Forward For Sandy Hook. The race was organized by teachers at Danbury’s Rogers Park Middle School.
Walkers hugged and petted the dogs as they made their way up Memorial Drive during Saturday's event. The dogs wear blue vests encouraging people to pet them. “They bring amazing comfort and healing to people,’’ Marr said.
“These dogs are part of the reason the kids at Sandy Hook come back to school every day. They just give unconditional love.”
The dogs have their own Facebook pages and were featured on ABC’s "Good Morning America" earlier this month.
Recently, Addie was at the Danbury Fair Mall on a weekend day and was recognized by a Sandy Hook student. “Addie was tired, just like any of us at the end of a long work week,’’ said Marr. “When the student came to pet her, she perked up instantly. They can sense who needs comfort.’’
A parent who wrote on Addie’s Facebook page said the dog makes a huge difference in her everyday life. Testimonials to the dogs on the page are common. Addie and Maggie were smothered with affection at Saturday’s race.
For more information on how Addie can visit your group, send an email to addie@k9comfort.org or contact Immanuel Lutheran at 203-748-3320.
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