SANTA FE, Texas – Sitting down in front of Santa Fe High School, Brianna Gallegos smiled for what felt like the first time in days.
She was petting a dog named Moses from Nebraska.
"It's very comforting to have something very loving. It's just really cute," the teen said. "It's a really positive thing to have after being around so much negative stuff."
Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry has more than 125 dogs nationwide. The dogs are activated in the event of tragic shootings and natural disasters. Julie Garcia/Caller-Times
Gallegos and her mother had just laid flowers down in front of 10 white crosses. Each cross was painted with the names of eight of her classmates and two teachers who were killed in a May 18 shooting at the school.
Dimitrios Pagourtzis, 17, has been arrested on capital murder and aggravated assault on a public servant. Authorities say he walked into an art classroom armed with his father's shotgun and a revolver and opened fire.
MORE: One Santa Fe student's struggle to cope: Church, baking, friends — and a plea to arm teachers
Moses, a golden retriever, is a trained comfort dog with the Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry. His job is to make others feel better.
Gallegos knows she'll never be able to forget about what happened the day her classmates and teachers were gunned down.
"If this was a normal Monday the bell would've just rang and I'd be going to second period," Gallegos said as she sat in the grass beside Moses.
Now instead of prepping for her final exams the junior faced the reality of seeing her classmates buried.
But for a few minutes at least Moses helped lift her spirits. She focused on the soothing action of petting him. She wasn't ready to talk about the shooting. That was just fine with her two-old furry companion, who laid comfortably at her feet basking in her affection.
The dogs also were a source of comfort at vigils honoring the shooting victims and one - Gabriel - met with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
"As a Red Cross volunteer so simply put it yesterday: they do absolutely nothing, but give comfort," said Rich Martin, director of the K-9 ministry. "They're just trained to be calm, docile, obedient and to be (petted.)"
Mahlah, a 3-year-old retriever from Milford, Illinois, was dispatched after the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, again in Las Vegas and the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Now the dogs have "paws on the ground" in Santa Fe, a town of about 13,000 between Galveston and Houston.
MORE: Sutherland Springs shooting: Volunteer groups, dogs come to aid of families, faith leaders
On Mahlah's information card, the scripture 2 Corinthians 4:17 is printed: "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us in eternal glory that far outweighs them all."
Rev. Karl Gibbs, of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Milford, is Mahlah's handler. He goes with her to every assignment.
"She builds so many bridges to make that possible. What’s awesome about her and all the other dogs is she gives unconditional love. She’ll go into a place wherever it is and she just loves," Gibbs said. "She doesn’t judge, she doesn't interrupt. She listens as people tell their stories and begin to process their grief, and again she gives that unconditional love."
HOW TO HELP
Help provide golden retriever stuffed animals to those in need by donating at http://luthcc.org/stuffeddogst
To donate to the Texas Travel Expense Fund, visit http://luthcc.org/santafetexast
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