ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOX) – Some canine comfort for families grieving over the tragic losses in Connecticut, thanks in part to the St. Louis-based Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

Ten Labrador Retrievers bought and trained by the Missouri Synod and Lutheran Church Charities are in Newtown this week providing a calming spirit to those in need. The Reverend Glenn Merritt is director of Disaster Response for the LCMS, he was there over the weekend with the dogs.

“People kind of hesitate at first,” Rev. Merritt said.

Each dog wears coverings which say ‘I’m friendly, please pet me’.

But once the impression goes away Rev. Merritt says those grieving “just kind of drop down on to their knees and hug the dog and sit there with it whether its an adult of a child.”

The program is called K-9 Comfort Dogs and its now up to 60 dogs in six states.

For more information on K-9 Comfort Dogs click HERE