Therapy dogs visit Pittsburgh neighborhood after shooting

Therapy dogs visited Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood the day after a mass shooting killed 11 congregants in one of the area’s largest and best-known synagogues. 

The Go Team, a group overseeing therapy dog teams, sent 13 dogs of all sizes to comfort the community on Saturday, according to local outlet the Tribune-Review. 

{mosads}“We’re just here to support the community,” Lisa Pierce, a member of the Go Team, told the news website. “Sometimes just petting a dog helps.”

By the way, therapy dogs came to Squirrel Hill today. pic.twitter.com/EvN8VA3foi

— julia reinstein (@juliareinstein) October 28, 2018

The Pittsburgh community has mobilized behind the Squirrel Hill neighborhood in the wake of the shooting, which has been described as the deadliest attack against the Jewish community in U.S. history. 

Local sports teams have vowed to donate money and host blood drives in response to the tragedy.

A vigil for the victims in the city was attended by thousands of mourners on Saturday night, and a GoFundMe to support those affected by the violence had raised more than $450,000 as of Sunday evening. 

The gunman stormed into the synagogue on Saturday morning, screaming “all Jews must die” as he fired. 

Federal prosecutors filed 29 charges against the suspect, including some related to hate crime charges, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania Scott W. Brady announced late Saturday.