ORLANDO, Fla. — As many gather at the Pulse memorial to remember the 49 lives lost six years ago, one four-legged friend is on hand to lend support.
For Peace the Comfort Dog and her handler Paul Soost, June 12 is not just a day of remembrance, but of action.
What You Need To Know
- As many gather at the Pulse memorial to remember the 49 lives lost six years ago, one four-legged friend is on hand to lend support
- For Peace the Comfort Dog and her handler Paul Soost, June 12 is not just a day of remembrance, but of action
- Peace is a trained K-9 comfort dog at Trinity Lutheran Church in Orlando
- Now, every year, Peace visits the memorial on this remembrance day to bring comfort to those who need it most
“We are there to be present, we are there to listen and we are there to provide comfort during times of distress,” said Soost.
Every year on this day, they visit the Pulse memorial to comfort those dealing with difficult emotions in the wake of tragedy.
“This is a place where we know that a lot of people will be dropping by throughout the day, a lot of people will be here to remember, a lot of people will need a little bit of comfort," said Soost.
Peace is a trained K-9 comfort dog at Trinity Lutheran Church in Orlando. The church signed up to be part of the Lutheran Church Charities comfort dog ministry after seeing how much other comfort dogs with the program helped in the immediate aftermath of the Pulse shooting — helping families who lost loved ones, survivors and first responders. Born just a few months after Pulse, Peace got her name as the organization hoped she would help bring peace and healing to Orlando after this tragedy.
“She will lean into somebody and just kinds of leans against their leg and she is sensing that they just need a little bit of additional comfort, a little bit of love at that time,” said Soost.
Now, every year, Peace visits the memorial on this remembrance day to bring comfort to those who need it most.
“When you see a dog how can you not feel a little bit of happiness, a little bit of joy even during times of distress? So she just helps people forget a little bit about the struggles and the pain that they are working through and just gives a moment of hope, a moment of happiness, a moment of joy during tough times,” said Soost.
This is the fifth remembrance day Peace is spending at the Pulse memorial. Lutheran Church Charities has comfort dogs stationed all across the country to help people in times of need.