When tragedy occurs, brief glimmers of hope, no matter how small they are, are invaluable to those suffering. These short distractions from the surreal situations surrounding them can often be what one needs to get through another day.
Portage comfort dog, Barnabas, has one job: to provide these glimmers of hope to those who need it most by being a caring, welcoming friend when it’s needed the most.
Barnabas, along with 11 other comfort dogs, recently traveled down to Orlando to be there for those affected by the shooting at Pulse Nightclub. He spent the week in Florida, visiting those injured in the hospital, the victims’ families, and the first responders and emergency medical personnel working tirelessly to help.
And Barnabas did his job.
“There is a lot of people hurting down there in Orlando,” Barnabas’ Handler, Dan Fulkerson of Portage, told IIMM. “It was good to be able to provide them with comfort, and to see the smiles on their faces when the dogs come into the room.”
Orlando is not Barnabas’ first trip to a tragedy, he and Isaiah, a comfort dog with Portage High School, have traveled to Sandy Hook, Boston, Oklahoma, and even California, but every trip’s goal remains the same.
“When we’re out there we try to bring God’s love, healing, and compassion to everyone we meet,” added Fulkerson. “But we’re out there because these folks need a glimmer of time to not have to think about these tragedies.”
“And you just see the big smile and laughter that comes shortly after these dogs walk into a room and it’s all worth it.”
The week-long trip to Orlando brought these brief moments of happiness to homes, hospitals, and even every fire station in the city, but, as Fulkerson puts it, the healing Barnabas and the other comfort dogs bring to the places they visit doesn’t stop when the dogs return home.
“Every dog has a business card that comes with a bible verse explaining their names, and a link to visit their Facebook page. If they’re having a bad day they can always visit the page to remember the time to dogs came to visit, see what they’re up to these days, and remember that we are always here if you need a hand to give Christ’s mercy and compassion.”