Meet Solomon, the golden retriever who brings consolation after tragedies — together with mass shootings – Each day Press

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JAMES CITY — Solomon all the time appears to know which individuals want him most.

On the College of Virginia after the Nov. 13 capturing deaths of three soccer gamers, the 70-pound golden retriever walked straight towards a scholar who turned out to be grieving — for the campus tragedy and the current lack of his personal canine.

Solomon rested his furry head on the younger man’s shoulder, wagged his tail and relaxed for an extended hug.

“He offers folks a launch for his or her stress and grief,” mentioned Terri Scungio, who traveled with him to Charlottesville for an evening. “He’s nothing however pure love.”

Solomon, 3½, is a specially-trained consolation animal who joined King of Glory Lutheran Church in James Metropolis County in 2021. Since then, he has traveled to nursing houses, hospitals, fireplace stations, veterans’ packages, faculties, a police funeral and the websites of main tragedies, together with November’s mass shootings at UVA and the Walmart in Chesapeake.

King of Glory’s Crew Solomon is a part of the Lutheran Church Charities Ok-9 Consolation Canine Ministry, a nationwide community of skilled golden retrievers. The congregation has a 15-member staff of handlers, assistants and caregivers led by Trish Freshwater, additionally a handler.

After pure disasters, violent acts and different traumatic occasions, Solomon will help adults and youngsters launch bottled-up feelings and discuss by means of their experiences and emotions — or just take pleasure in just a few moments of pleasure and peace.

“He’s a bridge for people who find themselves hurting to start to heal,” Freshwater mentioned. “He’s quiet and doesn’t choose anybody. Individuals flock to him as a result of they only wish to cease and breathe, or maybe pray.”

The nonprofit launched its Consolation Canine Ministry in 2008 after shootings at Northern Illinois College that killed 5 college students. Since then, the mission has grown to greater than 130 canines in 26 states, together with groups centered on the army and police communities.

Every canine receives no less than 2,000 hours of coaching over 18 to 24 months, studying to answer a wide range of instructions, work together confidently with strangers and stay calm in new environments. Not like most medical service canines, who undergo a special licensing course of, they’re taught to work with a number of handlers.

Would-be handlers additionally bear coaching on the charity’s headquarters in Northbrook, Illinois. King of Glory’s staff accomplished three days of intense instruction, together with reside follow runs to a fireplace station and nursing dwelling, and go to regional coaching periods a few times a yr. In March, the church plans to ship two extra members to Illinois for coaching.

Solomon with team leader Trish Freshwater, left; handler Terri Scungio; handler and caregiver Brad Crawford; handler Philip Forgit; and handler Linda Falck at King of Glory Lutheran Church in James City County. Alison Johnson/freelance

Demand for Crew Solomon has elevated within the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus far in 2022, Solomon has accomplished greater than 100 group visits, together with 70-plus church occasions and providers.

A delicate canine with type brown eyes and large paws, Solomon principally lives with assigned caregiver Brad Crawford on a 16-acre property in New Kent County. Crawford volunteered for the position shortly after dropping his spouse to pancreatic most cancers.

Solomon loves getting consideration, taking lengthy walks and taking part in fetch with a tennis ball, all his personal stress relievers. He hardly ever barks and sleeps soundly in his crate in a single day.

“I’d by no means had a canine in my life,” Crawford mentioned. “However after I learn the church’s announcement about needing somebody, I felt like God was asking me to do that. I’m very contented I did what He requested. Solomon is a extremely, actually good canine.”

King of Glory covers Solomon’s bills though Jolly Pond Veterinary Hospital and Dogsburg Grooming Shoppe donate providers. Caring for the canine means brushing his silky coat and tooth every day and protecting his nails trimmed brief. However he doesn’t get any treats or desk scraps — to discourage him from looking for out meals whereas he’s on obligation.

Comfort dog Solomon brings smiles to students at the University of Virginia in the wake of a shooting that left three football players dead. Courtesy of King of Glory Lutheran Church
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In Charlottesville and Chesapeake, Crew Solomon labored with LCC Consolation Canine from Northern Virginia, Maryland and Ohio. At UVA, Solomon went to eating halls, central campus areas and a classroom assembly of a scholar ministry.

“The objective was to get the youngsters to open up, whether or not they have been speaking to Solomon or one another,” Scungio mentioned. “One woman was throughout him despite the fact that it turned out she was allergic to canines. She mentioned, ‘I don’t care. I want this proper now. I’ll pay for it later.’”

Philip Forgit and his spouse, fellow handler Daybreak, met with first responders who had been dispatched to Walmart, in addition to group residents at a vigil. Whereas handlers don’t ask private questions, one girl recognized herself as a 25-year Walmart worker who knew all six folks killed.

“Individuals would possibly say, ‘Oh, he’s only a canine,’ however there’s such energy in that phrase,” Forgit mentioned. “He’s a protected place the place folks can step away from coping with horror.”

Handler Jon Falck with comfort dogs Solomon, left, Claudia, Amos and Kezia visiting firefighters at the Chesapeake Fire Department's Station 4. Courtesy of Lutheran Church Charities

Linda Falck, one other handler and backup caregiver for Solomon in her Ford’s Colony dwelling, went to 2 Chesapeake fireplace stations and a memorial exterior Walmart. “I feel folks have been relieved to see him,” she mentioned. “They depart him with a smile, which is basically rewarding.”

Transferring ahead, King of Glory plans to maintain constructing on Solomon’s outreach ministry. “He’s beginning to be acknowledged in our group,” Freshwater mentioned. “We all know that he has a lot extra to provide.”

Alison Johnson, [email protected]



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