The death of a loved one is a heartbreaking event in itself, and even attending a funeral can be stressful. Of course, the people who run funeral homes know that their guests are grieving, and more and more funeral homes are turning to dogs to help people get through a very difficult time.
Of all the important jobs dogs have, working as a comfort dog in a funeral home might be what comes most naturally. They provide emotional support for people who are grieving, and their mere presence can lower blood pressure and stress levels in humans. Although any dog has the ability to make people feel calmer, therapy dogs are heavily socialized and thoroughly trained to keep both themselves, and the people they work, with safe.
80 therapy dogs are expected to be in attendance to comfort mourners during the funeral of a Buffalo, NY police officer who died during training earlier this month.
Funeral director Timothy Gardner, who owns a funeral home in Orchard Park, NY has been offering therapy dog services from his dog, Charlotte, since 2015, at a time when 15,000 died due to opioid abuse.
He told WKBW:
“People were nervous and they didn’t know what to say and certainly didn’t want to be here. I thought, well, this is an opportunity to help them.”
He later added:
“The dog makes it a little more interesting, a little more inviting, a little more welcoming.”
H/T: WBKW.com
Featured Photo: @mod_mortician/Instagram
