Latest news with #Canines4Comfort
Chicago Tribune
02-07-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Round Lake-area group trains service, comfort dogs; ‘I couldn't leave the house alone before I had her'
Liam Tousignant of Lake Villa missed a lot of classes during his freshman year at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, but things changed as a sophomore when he brought Lilly, his service dog, to class with him. An illustration major, Tousignant said there was a time he would not leave home alone for fear of having a panic attack. Then Lilly entered his life, courtesy of training at Round Lake-based Canines 4 Comfort. As a freshman at college, Tousignant said he left Lilly at home. He would leave his room for a variety of reasons with his roommate, but class was a different matter. When he returned as a sophomore, Lilly came along. 'Now I have a lot less absences,' he said. 'I tried the first year without her, and it was very hard. I couldn't leave the house alone before I had her. Every day, I can do more than I did before.' Tousignant's Lilly was one of 10 specially trained dogs going through their paces Tuesday at a Canines 4 Comfort training session in Gurnee, sharpening their skills to help people when a need arises. Lisa Wernli, a Waukegan native now living in the Round Lake area, is the founder and executive director of Canines 4 Comfort. An experienced dog trainer, she started the organization in 2017, recognizing the need for service animals in a variety of situations. Starting with psychiatric service dogs who help people with conditions like PTSD, anxiety and depression, Wernli said Canines 4 Comfort branched into training emotional support dogs. By 2020, she began training facility dogs, which are commonly referred to as comfort dogs. 'A facility dog can have two or three handlers,' Wernli said. 'They do not live at the facility. They go home with a handler. A psychiatric or emotional support dog (helps) one individual.' Of the 15 facility dogs trained by Canines 4 Comfort in the past five years, Wernli said eight are at police departments, five at schools, one — Macki — is at the Waukegan Fire Department, and another is at the Lake County Courthouse. She has trained 26 emotional support or psychiatric dogs. Beth Moss, a battalion chief with the Waukegan Fire Department who is Macki's handler, said in May that the dog is a benefit to firefighters who have had a challenging day or victims who have had a traumatic experience. She takes Macki to different events around the city, too. 'A young girl was lining up sticks for her,' Moss said of an interaction at an event in May. 'Macki waited for a moment and let the girl know she was playing with him. It's a way to interact with the public in a positive way, not on a bad day for them.' The Waukegan Police Department will have its own comfort dog once training is complete. Wernli said two dogs in training are designated for the Waukegan Police Department, and one will be selected. When there is a situation somewhere where a need is great, Wernli said multiple comfort dogs will go to assist with the situation. Ellie Jensen, a counselor at Prairie Crossing Charter School, and Annie Gernedy, a MTSS coordinator there, are Emi's handlers. Emi spends her day at Prairie Crossing and goes home each evening with either Jensen or Gernedy. She has been at the school since March. The dog helps students with their social-emotional education and with potentially uncomfortable situations. 'She has improved the school community,' Jensen said. 'The kids enjoy her and crowd around her.' Dogs trained by Canines 4 Comfort have helped solve crimes and potentially save lives. Wernli said that at one police department, a sexual assault victim would not talk about their experience. Then the facility dog joined the interrogation. 'Once they brought the dog in, the victim was able to provide the details,' she said. 'One time, a person was going to make an attempt on their life. The dog interrupted the attempt and awoke the parents.' Wernli said Canines 4 Comfort can train eight to 10 dogs a year. If it can find more people who take puppies through obedience training, it would increase the supply of service and facility dogs. 'People shy away from it because they are concerned about giving up the puppy,' she said.
Chicago Tribune
28-05-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Waukegan first responders looking to comfort dogs for support; ‘It will help give them a lift when they need it'
Emotional care for both first responders and the people who need their assistance is becoming more and more important and Macki, the Waukegan Fire Department's comfort dog, provides it for both firefighters after a challenging day and victims who need their help. Officially joining the department on April 23, Beth Moss, a battalion chief with the fire department who is Macki's handler, said she will take the dog to community events like ribbon-cuttings and parades to let people know about the dog's role. 'A young girl was lining up sticks for her,' Moss said. 'Macki waited for a moment and let the girl know she was playing with him. It's a way to interact with the public in a positive way, not on a bad day for them.' Fire Chief Gregg Paiser said firefighters and emergency medical technicians go on calls, which can be emotionally draining. When they return, Macki will be there, should they need a companion to help them relieve their stress. 'It's an important emotional support for the department,' Paiser said. 'It will help give them a lift when they need it. The dog makes it easier for them, and is there on a daily basis.' Macki and Moss engaged with adults, children, and their families along the route of the Memorial Day Parade on Monday, waiting for the participants to approach. Along the route before the parade, Macki engaged with the Kemp family from Waukegan. While a young daughter eagerly petted the dog, her younger brother got close and then backed away. Emmalee Kemp watched as her children interacted. She said she liked what she saw. 'We like going to community events,' Kemp said. 'It gives us a chance to do things in the community as a family.' Moss waited with Macki on the sidewalk near Veterans Memorial Place while the Memorial Day Ceremony was ongoing. As people left after the event ended, Macki drew their attention as some of the onlookers engaged, including Mayor Sam Cunningham. Cunningham said the use of comfort dogs and other mental health techniques is becoming more and more important. They can be useful in the Public Works Department and other areas of city operations, as well as fire and police. 'It allows people to relax their mental state and communicate better,' Cunningham said. 'It will help them to handle the situation. It will help them through difficult situations. The old days of (ignoring this) are gone.' Now 2 years old, Macki began training as a comfort dog with Canines 4 Comfort when she was six months old. Moss said she went through some of the training with her as she prepped to be her handler. There is updated training every few months. As her handler, Macki lives with Moss. She brings her to work with her each day, making the dog available should a need arise. Since the fire department operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Paiser said if a firefighter or victim needs help, Moss and Macki are on their way. 'She comes on all of my calls with me,' Moss said. 'She'll come into the emergency room (at the hospital) to comfort a victim. I'll take her to schools so the kids can see her in a positive situation.' The Waukegan Police Department also plans to bring a comfort dog on board. Deputy Chief Mike Mandro said police officials are on the waiting list with Canines 4 Comfort. No date is set for the dog's arrival. Meanwhile, Paiser said Macki is available to help. Mandro said he foresees a variety of situations for a comfort dog. The dog will help with community outreach, helping officers after a challenging call, as well as crime victims. The Community Policing Unit can take the dog to community events. In the Community Assistance Group, where police officers and social workers join forces, the dog will be helpful, too.
