Daniel Comfort Dog is Joplin’s LCC K-9 Comfort Dog, serving Immanuel Lutheran Church and Martin Luther School since his commissioning on January 15, 2023. A purebred Golden Retriever with over 2,000 hours of certified training from Lutheran Church Charities, Daniel Comfort Dog brings a calming presence and opens doors for the mercy, compassion, and proclamation of Jesus Christ wherever he goes.
Daniel was born January 15, 2021, and joined the Joplin team after months of preparation and handler training at LCC’s facility in Illinois in November 2022. He is skilled and playful, lives to please, and loves meeting new people — making him a natural fit for the school community at Martin Luther School. Several members of the MLS family serve on Daniel’s handler team, including Sue Doennig, Ms. Jennifer Lutz, and Jennifer Jankowski, alongside team lead Heidi Gustin and DCE Jason Glaskey (Level II Handler). The team visits hospitals, nursing homes, area schools, and community events throughout the week — always free of charge to those they serve.
Daniel is woven into the rhythm of life at Martin Luther School. He joins students in chapel every week, makes occasional classroom appearances that students never forget, and is a regular fixture at Lutheran Schools Week and Vacation Bible School every summer. He has attended Missouri District Youth Gatherings repeatedly — most recently in 2026 — walking alongside the same students he sees in the hallways each week. His presence at MLS reflects the conviction that kindling character and sparking joy sometimes happens through a warm, furry friend — and always through the love of Christ.
About LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs
Lutheran Church Charities (LCC) launched the K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry in 2008. All dogs are AKC-certified purebred Golden Retrievers trained for 2,000+ hours before placement. They are permanently placed with LCMS churches and schools — not with individuals — and every visit is always free. More than 130 dogs now serve in 26+ states. Daniel is Joplin’s third Comfort Dog, following Jackson and Louie, who began their ministry after the devastating 2011 EF-5 Joplin tornado. Daniel’s local veterinary care is provided by Dr. Michelle Cahill at Academy Animal Hospital, and grooming by Sandy Jimerson at Joh Joh’s Classy Canine.
Daniel Comfort Dog — Ministry Impact
The Joplin Comfort Dog team has responded to communities in crisis across the nation — including Sandy Hook, Connecticut (2013), Moore, Oklahoma (2013), Las Vegas, Nevada (2017, featured on NBC National News), and more. Daniel has been featured in Outreach Magazine (May 2023), on the front page of The Joplin Globe (December 2022), and on KSN-16 NBC affiliate. Learn the full story of Daniel’s community ministry at Immanuel’s Comfort Dog Team page.
“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) — Daniel’s Bible Verse
Daniel Comfort Dog is an LCC K-9 Comfort Dog placed with Immanuel Lutheran Church in Joplin, MO. Follow Daniel on Facebook or Instagram, or contact the team at daniel@K9Comfort.org. Martin Luther School is affiliated with the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). Enroll your child or schedule a tour.