Dogs are a man’s best friend because they have the ability to connect with people. In Lutheran Church Charities they deployed dogs to visit dozens of hospitalized victims of the Boston Marathon Bombings. All of the patients see hope and chance to live a normal life again, like patient Lee Ann Yanni who had been training to run and is still planning to run again when she recovers.

More patients, even young hospital patients and nursing students feel grateful for the presence of comfort dogs. The canine visitors acted almost like furry counselors.

It was noted that the dogs — all golden retrievers — have an uncanny ability to calm and connect with injured survivors as well as hospital workers and random passersby on the street.

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