Picture from the Canine Angels' trip to Newtown. Courtesy Rick Kaplan
NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WPDE) - After the mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, many of us were left wondering what we could do to help the victims. Rick Kaplan saw the news coverage and knew exactly what to do.
Kaplan owns Canine Angels which is a charity that trains service dogs for disabled veterans. Kaplan decided that the Canine Angels needed to make the trip to Newtown to comfort the grieving town.
"Anybody who was there needed to touch those dogs, they needed the therapy, they needed the comfort," said Kaplan.
The Angels and Kaplan were there for three and a half days working 16 hour shifts. They would go from church to church, anywhere where the dogs could help.
"Just to be petted, just to be touched, just to have that human animal bond," said Kaplan.
During their trip the Angels encountered one of the mother's of a shooting victim. Kaplan said the comfort and the smiles they brought victim's families were exactly why they made the trip.
"At least 10,000 hands touched those dogs and the faces connected to those hands all smiled during it. How do you put a price on 10,000 smiles in the face of tragedy?" asked Kaplan.
For information on the Canine Angels you can visit their website here.
They're also on Facebook.
