LEWISTON, Maine — Many people know how much comfort a dog can provide, and eight canines from across the country are in Maine to comfort people who are grieving the loss of the 18 people shot and killed in Lewiston last week.
The dogs come from a national nonprofit called The Lutheran Church Charities, and they're in Maine until Saturday with their handlers.
The dogs are taught to engage with people who have faced crisis situations. People can release their emotions, cry, talk to them, hug them, or simply pet them for as long as they want.
Just like the dogs, handlers are also there to provide support and strength.
Bonnie Fear is the canine crisis response coordinator for the nonprofit. She said after tragic events, they will travel wherever people need the dogs' companionship and support.
"They are highly trained to be very calm in all these situations," Fear explained. "They actually can lay down and sleep on the job and be called a working dog."
On Wednesday, the eight dogs were scheduled to visit schools and first responders. The goal is to help people heal after experiencing some of the worst moments of their lives.
"The emotions are raw. People, I still don't think they know what happened, the shock. So it's just a relief when they see the dogs, something new, something fun, that they can just grasp to," Fear said.
There are two events on Thursday, Nov. 2, were anyone can stop by:
- From 3-6 p.m. at the corner of Main Street and Lincoln Street in Lewiston, the dogs will be there as Starbucks gives out free hot drinks.
- From 5:45 p.m. on, the dogs will be outside of The Colisee in Lewiston ahead of the Maine Nordiques hockey game