Therapy Dog Is a ‘Staff Member’ at Funeral Home

"She connects with people on a different level than we can."

Lulu the goldendoodle is a "staff member" at Ballard-Durand Funeral & Cremation Services in New York. She's a certified therapy dog, and she provides comfort for people who are grieving the loss of a loved one.

“She’s such an affectionate dog and such a social dog. Just petting her is a subtle distraction from the pain these people are going through,” Matthew Fiorillo, Lulu’s owner and president of the funeral and cremation services, told The Huffington Post. “Such a subtle distraction is a comforting thing for families.”

She can be requested by families (in case there's somebody who doesn't like dogs), and she can greet people at the door or move among the guests.

This goes without saying, but when I kick it, I want to have my services at a funeral home that has a dog. No question. How beautiful and sweet!