Comfort dogs are heading to Maine after mass shooting

On October 25, news broke of a mass shooting in Maine and in response, a group of comfort dogs are heading to the state to offer their support.

When it comes to responding to tragedy, it can be hard to find the right words to say or even the actions that can help ease the pain of what has transpired. And yet, that is what the non-profit organization known as the Crisis Response Canines offers. They offer a chance to ease some of the pain felt by those who are suffering.

Following the mass shooting in Maine earlier this week, Crisis Response Canines is sending a group of comfort dogs to the state in support. There are five dogs heading to Lewiston, Maine to do what they can in support of the people in the community, and according to WCBV5 an ABC affiliate in Boston, Massachusetts, their first stop will be to the first responders.

Comfort dogs have been deployed to Maine to help offer support to the community following recent mass shooting

On top of visiting with the first responders in Lewiston, these comfort dogs from Crisis Response Canines will be providing support at community events and any vigils that are held for the victims and survivors.

According to the handler of one of those dogs, bringing these pups to these communities “just makes it a moment in their life that they, just, it’s that one moment of happiness and joy instead of everything just being so heavy and sad and hard.”

And how do they bring those moments to light? Well, the handler’s dog, Zodiac, has a purple tail in an effort to stop people in their tracks. It is a chance to take one’s mind off of tragedy and heartbreak even for a short period of time. And it is something that has worked, because people will ask ‘why is that dog’s tail purple?’.

We appreciate everything that these dogs do, as well as their handlers.