The dog has become an invaluable tool
for the funeral home in helping local families deal with their grief. Some people even ask to bring the
dogs with them to the cemetery, providing them with some comfort while they
visit the burial site of a loved one.
"Our experience has shown that people can let go totally
when they interact with a dog. The dogs are just there, to pet, to hug and to
cry on," said Ursula Kempe, president of Therapy Dogs International.
"Their calming, loving presence can
help during times of extreme grief. There is no need to talk, just to feel. The
dogs can give what humans cannot."
While therapy dogs have become common
in hospitals, mental health facilities and schools, G.H. Herrmann is unique in
using certified therapy dogs in its funeral homes.
Herrmann came up with the idea about
using therapy dogs in his funeral homes after a discussion with a long-time
friend. Kevin Knartzer, director of training and canine development at Bargersville
Veterinary Hospital, trains service dogs for the disabled.
One afternoon, Knartzer stopped by
the funeral home to see Herrmann. He had brought Lady, a golden retriever he
was training. A family was planning the funeral of
their father and grandfather who had died. But once the dog stepped into the
room, the small children stopped crying and focused their attention on Lady.
"They're planning for their grandfather's funeral, and
they're crying. Then all of a sudden they see a dog, and they smile, their eyes
light up and they felt better," Herrmann said.
He and Knartzer immediately seized on
the potential good that a therapy dog could provide.
"It lifts people's spirits. Dogs give people a chance to
take a break from their biggest worry and really have a moment to think of
something else," Knartzer said. "People
almost transfer their feelings to the dog. It gives them that respite for a
moment."
The program at G.H. Herrmann started
tentatively. Herrmann was concerned that while some people might enjoy having a
dog present while they planned a funeral, others would complain. But after three years, he has yet to
hear anything negative about the program. G.H. Herrmann now features four dogs,
which split time between the three Herrmann locations.
- Jax a
laid-back black Labrador
- Lady
is the diva of the group
- Birch loves to
catch the Frisbee
- Gracie is the latest arrival
Each dog has a handler who takes him
or her home at night, feeds them and cares for them. All of them work for the
funeral home. Each of the dogs has become a
celebrity inside the funeral homes. Funeral director April Williams has
seen how people have latched onto the dogs, coming back months and even years
after a funeral to see the dog that comforted them.
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