The Arizona wildfires in Yarnell Hill claimed 19 firefighters' lives last week, and were recorded as the nation's biggest loss of firefighters since 9/11. As the community struggles to cope with their losses, Lutheran Church Charities is trying to help, and they brought comfort dogs.

The seven golden retrievers toured around the Prescott area, visiting firefighters and their families. The charity, which is from Addison, Ill., also delivered fire department patches from across the Chicago metropolitan area.

"They show unconditional love," Tim Hetzner, president of the charity, told WGN TV. "When people pet a dog, they relax, and many times they will talk to the dog. That talking helps them process what crisis they're going through."

"Dogs are confidential, they don't take notes — they're big, furry counselors."

Comfort dogs, also known as therapy dogs, provide comfort through their friendly, gentle, and patient temperament. Having this temperament allows them to remain calm during circumstances ranging from adults petting them to kids hugging them.

It also contributes to the experience a person has when they see the dog. While some dogs may not be too friendly with strangers, comfort dogs are trained to enjoy physical contact with someone they're unfamiliar with. There's not doubt that by doing this, the human gets the closest experience to having their own canine companion at home, and consequently is able to enjoy the benefits of it.

Petting a dog can reduce stress due to the body's release of oxytocin, a hormone that facilitates bonding. What's more, the dog also release oxytocin, which results in a sense of calm between the two.

"The simple act of petting an animal is known to cause a person's blood pressure to drop," Alan Beck, director of the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University, said.

Talking to a dog can also increase levels of serotonin and dopamine, chemicals associated with happiness, while decreasing cortisol, which is produced in higher numbers when stressed.

The dogs are a welcome sight after a lightning strike caused a raging wildfire in Yarnell Hill, engulfing over 200 acres with the help of dense thickets that contained quick-burning oils. The group of firefighters, known as the "hotshot" crew, was a unique group of firefighters, as they didn't have engine companies and large trucks. Instead, they went into the woods with gear that would help them remove anything that could serve as fuel for the fire — they were trying to redirect the fires away from homes.

"These are the core of firefighting where they're right there in the middle of the incident," Prescott Fire Chief Dan Fraijo said at a new conference.

The Lutheran Church Charities K9 Comfort Dog program also brought comfort dogs to Boston after the marathon bombings and to Newtown, Conn. after shootings at Sandy Hook elementary school.