Comfort dogs brought to Surfside collapse site to support first responders and mourners

SURFSIDE, Fla. – Seven comfort dogs — all golden retrievers — visited first responders and mourners Saturday at the memorial wall near the site of the collapsed Surfside Champlain Towers South condominium. 

The dogs were available for petting by anyone, including first responders at the scene, those mourning lost loved ones and town residents struggling with the shock of the disaster that has brought grief to their neighbors and friends.

"They are highly trained working dogs that remain calm in any situation and they are here for people to pet," said Bonnie Fear of the Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Crisis Response Unit.

Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry and Hearts of Mercy & Compassion Ministry brought nine dogs from six different states to Surfside. They arrived July 6 and were in town until Monday.

In memoriam:Remembering those who died in the condo building collapse in Surfside, Florida

Fear said the group has taken comfort dogs to disaster or crisis sites across the country. But they only do so if a local Lutheran church issues an invitation.

In the case of Surfside, the invitation came from Holy Cross Lutheran Church & School in North Miami and Fear said they arrived within 24 hours of the invitation.

LCC also has been providing markers with the names of of all those who died in the condo collapse. The white post has a blue heart and loved ones can write messages on the marker.

Once a victim is publicly identified, the group places the person's name on the marker and places it in alphabetical order along the sidewalk in front of the memorial walljust west of the collapse site.

"In the end, this is a gift to the family," Fear said. "Hopefully it will end up in their hands. It's a gift from us… For the family, they are getting closure."

Follow Antonio Fins on Twitter: @PBPoliticsFins