Mahlah Comfort Dog, age 10, passed away on Monday, September 1, 2025 at her home. She was born on May 2, 2015. 

Mahlah was truly a gift of God’s creative wonder. We are deeply grateful for the moments shared with Mahlah, for the countless hugs, the soothing nuzzle, and the presence of absolute calm that she offered to all in her path who were suffering and in need. Mahlah’s life of service and unconditional love to others constantly reminded us of the goodness and love of God, and for that fact, we will be forever thankful. Indeed, with sorrowful, but yet thankful hearts, we join the prophet Job in praying, “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21).

We give thanks and praise to God for all that the Lord accomplished through Mahlah and her amazing team of volunteers over her 8 years of active service. Mahlah was placed at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Milford in February 2017. Her team was made up of volunteers from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Woodworth, Calvary Lutheran Church, Watseka, Trinity Lutheran Church, Goodland IN, Trinity Lutheran Church, Cissna Park, Trinity Church, Ashkum, as well as OSLC in Milford. Team Mahlah was committed to sharing the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ with those suffering and in need. Mahlah was triple-vested as a LCC K9 Comfort Dog (LCC K9 Comfort Dog, LCC K9 Police Ministry, and LCC Kare-9 Military Ministry) Team Mahlah brought the love of Christ to thousands of hurting and suffering individuals, both around the nation and locally. She and her team deployed to Las Vegas, NV following the Route 91 Music Festival Shooting (October 2017), the Parkland, FL School Shooting, (February 2018) and the Santa Fe, TX School Shooting (May 2018). Locally, Mahlah responded to dozens of communities and schools across the Midwest in the wake of natural and man-made disasters, as well as to offer bereavement care to those grieving the loss of loved ones. She made regular visits to local schools and libraries to bring smiles to students and staff who were struggling, and to provide a safe and fun place for a new reader to read a book aloud. She and her team especially loved her monthly visits to local assisted living and advanced nursing care facilities, bringing a bit of joy and love to those experiencing difficult days late in life. 

In the middle of our sadness, we find Good News believing that the very comfort of Jesus, which Team Mahlah shared with others, is the same comfort given to each of us — that our grief is not, and will not be, the final word. No, our Lord’s Word to be with the brokenhearted and to save those who are crushed in spirit is the final word, as that is exactly what He has done, and continues to do through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As we wrestle with the grief of bidding farewell to Mahlah, or to any other grief that will come our way, may we hold on to the certainty of God’s promised future. Something Mahlah reminded us of throughout her years with us through her theme verse, 2 Corinthians 4:17, which reads, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison…