Photo credit: K-9 Parish Comfort Dogs
Following the tragic events that transpired on Friday morning, the residents of Newtown, Connecticut are certainly in need of healing. To help in this process, a group of 10 golden retrievers travelled to Newtown with their owners as part of a larger program providing comfort dogs to help communities heal by offering a non-judgmental atmosphere to share in. The dogs are a calming influence and are helping residents speak out about their experiences. Yesterday the team of comfort dogs and their owners participated in after school activities with Sandy Hook students. The dogs usually comfort people in hospitals and nursing homes or after hurricanes and tornadoes, but this week they are giving comfort to anyone that needs it.
The American Red Cross is working with state government and local partners to provide direct assistance for the affected families and are continuing to provide food, water, and emotional support for the community of Newtown at the request of local authorities. This includes connecting families with community resources like mental health services and supporting a grief counselling centre that is available for all residents. The Red Cross will continue to work with local authorities to support affected families and first responders. For more information on how the American Red Cross is responding to the tragedy in Newtown visit redcross.org.