The healing power of animals is no secret. Anyone who has ever had to attend a funeral or make arrangements for a loved one knows how sad and grief-stricken one feels. But, what if, amidst the immense sadness and grief, one was greeted by a 68 pound, tail-wagging, loving sheepadoodle? Meet Titus Funeral Home’s newest employee, Hazel. Hazel is a 7 year old sheepadoodle, owned by funeral home associate, Stacy Huffer. With Stacy’s help, Hazel has recently finished her training for certification as a therapy dog. She is certified through Alliance of Therapy Dogs to comfort and bring joy to others.
"Hazel is special, she brings calm to an aching heart."
Rich White
Funeral Home Client
Meet Hazel, a Skilled Therapy Dog
Hazel is trained to respond to visual cues and has learned hand signals for different commands such as sit, stay and lie down. Communicating visually with Hazel is less distracting than speaking to her during her use in grief therapy for often quiet events such as visitations and funerals.
Therapy dogs make the perfect companion to help ease anxiety and confusion of death. Even if she creates a distraction for a moment or two from the stress and grief a person is experiencing, her mere presence is enough to release “feel good” hormones like serotonin and oxytocin. She can bring comfort without saying a word.
The staff of Titus Funeral Home can trace its roots to 1937 when Paul Bilby began the funeral home in its former location on High Street (beside what is now the Warsaw Community Public Library.) Moving in 1976 to its current location at the corner of Sheridan and Harrison Streets, Titus Funeral Home is now in its 5th generation of ownership with funeral director Cory Benz at the helm.
Titus Funeral Home is the area’s exclusive Life Celebration® provider offering customized, unique, and personalized funeral services which are devoted to telling one’s story. In addition to serving people, they also offer pet cremation services through a partnership with Paws and Remember.
When Hazel isn’t working at Titus Funeral Home, she enjoys chasing squirrels in the backyard, napping on her handler’s bed and cuddling on the couch. She may weigh 68 pounds but she thinks she is a lap dog.
Through her extensive training, Hazel will be able to fulfill this need within Kosciusko County, and the staff at Titus is eager to share her with those in need. Cory encourages you to plan a visit to meet Hazel, and their dedicated staff, so you can understand all of the grief services which are offered when a loved one dies.