The sweetest comfort dogs greet Uvalde students on first day of school

• The former students of Robb Elementary School returned to the classroom on Tuesday at their new schools.
• Volunteers showed up with 10 golden retriever comfort dogs to help ease the kids’ anxiety and hesitancy to return to school.
• The comfort dogs will be present whenever the kids need them during the first few weeks of school.

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A pack of golden retriever comfort dogs showcased their sweetest greetings as they welcomed Uvalde kids to their first day of school.

Former students of Robb Elementary School returned to the classroom on Tuesday at their new schools in the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District in Texas.

Parents, teachers, and the rest of the community made sure to shower them with the support they need.

Ten golden retriever comfort dogs also traveled from across the country to provide the children some comfort during the back-to-school season.

The comfort dogs were provided by Lutheran Church Charities (LCC) K-9 Ministries, which has been known to provide canine support to those impacted by disasters across the country.

The group made sure to bring the compassionate pups to Uvalde to help students who feel uneasy about returning to school.

Bonnie Fear, a crisis response coordinator for the group, noticed that several students experienced “a lot of hesitancy and anxiety about getting out of the car and going into the school.” So, they placed the dogs outside where they are visible to the kids.

She told CNN, “I do believe that that did help some of the kids see that dog and go, ‘OK, well, I’m going to go pet the dog.’”

Fear said that their aim is “to be present with those that are hurting and in need.” As the kids get back into their routines, their needs will keep changing, so the group will follow the instructions of the counselors. Their task is to “show up and just be with them in whatever they’re feeling.”

Some kids may already be familiar with these adorable pups. Back in May, LCC volunteers brought eight golden retriever comfort dogs to Uvalde within 24 hours after the shooting to provide support to those directly impacted by the tragedy.

LCC’s K-9 unit previously had only four dogs in 2008. Now, it has expanded to over 130 dogs across 27 states.

These dogs have had previous experiences bringing comfort to sites of mass shootings, including the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut.

Anyone can help these comfort dogs continue their important work by donating to LCC. Donations help provide the charity with travel expenses and other necessities.

Source: People