Local Comfort Dogs, Handlers Make 'Good Morning America' Appearance

Organizers from Lutheran Church Charities' K-9 comfort dogs ministry in Addison and ten comfort dogs and their handlers made an appearance on Good Morning America this past week, according to the Daily Herald. 

Mike Flaherty of Arlington Heights along with comfort dog Hannah, owned by Barb Granato of Arlington Heights, were among the dogs and handlers recognized — and rewarded — for the work they do during the show, according to the Daily Herald. 

Good Morning America host Lara Spencer said she'd been thinking about the comfort dogs since covering the Newtown shootings in Connecticut. Following the shootings, the organization decided to bring their dogs to Newtown to provide comfort to those suffering and grieving. 

"I haven't stopped thinking about them since," Spencer said. 

Good Morning America awarded the comfort dogs with dog-spa and grooming treatments, including a dog massage, and also rewarded the handlers with gift certificates to a New York City spa. In addition, the organization was given a van to help make travel easier with the comfort dogs, according to the Good Morning America video clip from the show. 

Following the show, the comfort dogs were expected to travel to Boston on Thursday "for hugs and pets" and then will be available Friday following the memorial service for the Boston Marathon Bombings at First Lutheran Church of Boston, according to the Lutheran Church Charities website.