Comfort Dogs Help Healing in Newtown

At a memorial for the victims of the shooting in Newtown, Golden Retrievers led by local volunteers provide some canine care to adults as well as children affected by the tragedy.

Published

5 months ago

Categories

Lifestyle

Topics

United States

Places

United States of America, Connecticut, Newtown

Transcript

Lending a lick or a paw - comfort dogs give support to a grieving community in Connecticut. At a memorial for the victims of the shooting in Newtown, Golden Retrievers - led by local volunteers - provided some canine care to adults as well as children affected by the tragedy. SOUNDBITE: Ann Kaza, Visitor to memorial "It's a very solemn time and with, you know, and with the dogs here, it seems like it's a little ray of sunshine, I guess, with the dogs here." Some of the dogs were trained to help people suffering from trauma - or sickness. Others assist the disabled or elderly while some dog owners simply brought their pets to try to help. Ann Marie Choffi and her comfort dog Libby are with the Hudson Valley Golden Retriever Club. SOUNDBITE: Ann Marie Choffi, Member, The Hudson Valley Golden Retriever Club "They're drawn like magnets to the people that need them. And we don't know how they know that, but they do. They pull us and we just go with them." As more and more dogs come to the memorial, even the police have started to take time to play with them. SOUNDBITE: Police Lieutenant Jeff Lampson "They just want to give love and I think right now, that's what this town really needs and so, it's kind of a perfect fit." Man's best friend continues the work in Newtown - as the community tries to heal.