for our patients in so many ways, and we have a whole lot
of people that do that, but also realize that animals can do
that also.”
The organization, Lutheran Church Charities (LCC) K-9
Comfort Dogs, was born directly from the Sandy Hook
tragedy in December of 2012. The specially-trained dogs
comforted those directly and indirectly impacted by the
shootings. The organization responds to natural and man-
made disasters, bringing their dogs in to comfort those
directly impacted by the tragedies.
Soon after the Sandy Hook shootings, St. Paul
Lutheran/The Summit ministry team was encouraged to
look into the program, and in May 2013, the St. Paul
School eighth-grade graduating class gave the first finan-
cial gift towards the purchase of a dog, Phoebe. The
program has grown to multiple volunteers, and due to a
growing schedule they added another dog, Pax, in 2015.
Phoebe now comes and visits Page’s patients who are
undergoing chemo treatment. He says that animal care
and the impact they can have on cancer patients has been
studied for many years, even being documented in numer-
ous medical journals.
“It’s been studied in the Journal for Community
Oncology and Supportive Care where they looked and
evaluated the impact of these animals on cancer patients;
and the study shows that when cancer patients got regular
visits with these dogs, it improved their overall quality
of life and improved their emotional well-being. It made
them feel better and reduced anxiety and stress, and it
took their minds off of what was going on for the day, but
it also helped them be more sociable and communicate
better about their disease. She [Phoebe] comes in and
motivates people to get better.”
The last thing that cancer patients want to think about
during their day of chemo is what drugs are going into
their body and what the potential outcome will be when
the chemo is over. Phoebe helps keep their minds occu-
pied and at ease, if only for a few minutes.
“They lower blood pressure and provide comfort,
and that’s what she [Phoebe] is — she is a comfort dog.”
Page has watched Phoebe work with his patients, bringing
excitement to a place where it’s needed most.
“She’s a real star when she comes to my practice;
everyone wants to see her. The nice thing about Phoebe
is that we have cancer patients that come in and they are
sitting in the chemotherapy chair and that’s the last thing
that they want to be doing in their lives, spending the
day in a chemotherapy chair, getting an infusion of toxic
drugs. It’s a wonder because Phoebe can come in with her
sweet, simple demeanor and lay her head on your lap and
look at you with her gentle eyes, or a wag of the tail can
work to make a bad day be a little bit brighter. “
At almost 3 years old, one would think that she is
extremely active, and she is, when she’s not working.
Phoebe and other K-9 Comfort Dogs are a special breed;
they are quiet, passive dogs. Once the vest comes off,
though, Phoebe becomes an active Golden Retriever with
a huge personality. With that balance of work and play,
it is easy to see how she brings comfort to everyone she
meets.
Weatherford Parker County Animal Shelter
Giving Second Chances
Campaign
$1.65 Million Goal
to improve The WPCAS facilityand their life saving efforts.
(All donations are tax deductable)
Donate online at: weatherfordtx.gov/animals
[email protected]
http://www.facebook.com/WPCAnimal
403 Hickory Lane | Weatherford, TX | 76086 | 817-598-4111
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