Therapy dogs have a long history of supporting people in many difficult situations. One way that some funeral homes are using them is to support families through funeral planning and the services themselves.
Therapy dogs have a long history of supporting people in many difficult situations. One way that some funeral homes are using them is to support families through funeral planning and the services themselves. While still not a common practice, the use of therapy dogs at funeral homes has been increasing over the years. Some funeral homes may work with a service that brings therapy dogs to funeral homes on an as-needed basis while others may train and have their own therapy dogs on staff. Therapy dogs can help by relieving some of the stress and anxiety for family members. They also provide comfort for many people. This can be especially true for children who may have a hard time processing what is happening and have difficulty expressing their feelings. Research has shown that petting an animal has physiological benefits including boosting your mood, reducing stress, and lowering blood pressure. Therapy dogs can be present in the room when families make arrangements, providing a quiet listening ear and a soft head to scratch. They can also provide a bit of a distraction at a difficult time, which can help families open up to share stories about their loved one. This in turn helps the funeral director with the arrangements. If a family wishes to have a therapy dog present at the funeral service itself, this can possibly be arranged as well. While not all families welcome a therapy dog at a visitation, funeral or memorial service, some do. In this case, the funeral home will likely determine if anyone in the immediate family has any allergies or concerns. They will also find a way to inform guests that there will be a therapy dog present at the service or visitation, in case a guest is not comfortable with the situation. If you are interested in having a therapy dog present at your arrangement meeting, visitation or service, you can always check with your funeral director. They may be able to provide one for you or help connect you with an organization that can.
