Immanuel Lutheran Church’s Comfort Dog Team brings mercy, compassion, and the presence of Christ to hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and communities in need — right here in Joplin and across the nation. We bring the love and presence of Jesus into every visit — always with compassion, never with pressure. Meet Daniel Comfort Dog — our LCC K-9 Golden Retriever, commissioned January 2023, who visits our community throughout the week and is present at Immanuel every Sunday for worship.

“A Comfort Dog is a friend who brings a calming influence and allows people to open up their hearts and receive help for what is affecting them.”

Meet Joplin’s Comfort Dog

• Birthday: January 15, 2021
• Commissioned: January 15, 2023 — Immanuel Lutheran Church, Joplin
• Bible verse: “And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” Daniel 12:3 (ESV)
• Special traits: Skilled and playful — lives to please, loves meeting new people, reliable with commands
• Favorite snack: Peanut butter inside a Kong toy
• Favorite way to relax: Massage, grooming, and cuddle time
• Connect: Facebook  |  Instagram  |  daniel@K9Comfort.org

Read Daniel’s full profile →  |  Daniel at Martin Luther School →

Joplin’s Comfort Dog team is made up of nearly a dozen caregivers and handlers — all volunteers — who take Daniel on visits throughout the week. You’ll see us at hospitals, nursing care facilities, Martin Luther School, Missouri Southern State University, malls, and community events. The team is led by Heidi Gustin, with DCE Jason Glaskey serving as lead handler and ministry advisor, alongside handlers Jennifer Lutz and others from the Immanuel family. Daniel is also present at Immanuel every Sunday for worship, joins MLS students for chapel every week, and is a regular at youth ministry events and Vacation Bible School every summer.

You may also hear about our national deployment work — when invited, Team Joplin responds to communities after disasters, shootings, and anywhere else that people are hurting. We have included a map showing several of our deployments over the years.

Notable Deployments — A History of Presence

The Joplin Comfort Dog team has a long history of national deployment going back to our original dogs, Jackson and Louie. When tragedy strikes and we are invited, Team Joplin goes:

• Sandy Hook, Connecticut — following the school shooting | January 2013
• Moore, Oklahoma — following a devastating tornado | May 2013
• Mayflower, Arkansas — following another deadly tornado | May 2014
• Nashville, Illinois — following a tragic plane crash | January 2015
• Stillwater, Oklahoma — following a deadly homecoming parade crash | October 2015
• Las Vegas, Nevada — Mandalay Bay shooting | October 2017 (NBC National News story)

Why Do We Do This?

Our world is full of broken people — folks who are hurting and in need. Petting a Comfort Dog and making a human connection is often helpful. But we are ready, when appropriate, to provide much more.

By faith, our Comfort Dog team is moved to share the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ. In Jesus there is Mercy for the broken and Compassion for the hurting. God Himself is Present in His life-giving Word. This Proclamation of hope is the true, capital “C” Comfort that we all need — and our world is desperate for it. (Learn more about Jesus here.)

During many of our visits, our trained volunteers have the privilege of praying with the people we meet, sharing Scripture, and pointing them to the love and mercy of Jesus. We thank God that we are often called to serve in this way with Comfort Dogs.

Request a Visit

The Joplin Comfort Dog Team is available to visit your church, group, school, nursing home, or community event. Our visits are always free. We come with caring hearts — not an agenda.

We Thank God for the Ministry of Joplin’s First Comfort Dogs, Jackson and Louie!

“In Memory of Louie Comfort Dog” — March 2021

“Remembering Jackson Comfort Dog” — March 2019

Joplin Comfort Dogs In The News

Thank you to Jessica Schaer and KSN-16 for introducing Daniel to Joplin! Watch: fourstateshomepage.com

Thanks also to Roger Nomer and The Joplin Globe for a full front-page story at Christmas 2022, and to Outreach Magazine for a national feature in May 2023.

• “Canine Comfort Ministry” — Outreach Magazine, May 2023
• “Cozy Canine Comfort” front page — The Joplin Globe, December 2022
• “Meet Daniel Comfort Dog” — KSN-16 NBC affiliate, December 2022
• NBC National News — Las Vegas deployment, October 2017
• Lutheran Church Charities — “Immanuel in Joplin Welcomes Daniel Comfort Dog,” January 2023

Local Comfort Dog Partners

The Joplin Comfort Dog Team couldn’t do what they do without the help of these Joplin businesses, who provide excellent care and believe in the work being done. Thank you to Dr. Michelle Cahill at Academy Animal Hospital and to Sandy Jimerson at Joh Joh’s Classy Canine!

Learn More

• Daniel Comfort Dog — Immanuel Profile
• Daniel at Martin Luther School
• Introducing Daniel Comfort Dog — December 2022
• Immanuel Lutheran Church in Joplin
• Martin Luther School (age 2–middle school)
• Youth Ministry at Immanuel
• LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs & Lutheran Church Charities
• NEXT Comfort Dog for Joplin Campaign (now completed)

Comfort Dog Handler Schedule

Password-protected Google Calendar for the Joplin Comfort Dog Team