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Meet Mochi: Our Grief Therapy Dog in Training

Tori McKay • Jan 17, 2020

IN HER OWN WORDS: Office admin Tori McKay explains how her idea for a grief therapy dog at the funeral home sets the stage for a more kind and comforting experience for families. Meet Mochi, therapy dog in training!

bernese mountain dog Mochi grief therapy support dog
Mochi, a Bernese Mountain Dog, has joined the staff at Macon Funeral Home and will soon be comforting families after she completes her training. Mochi belongs to our office administrator, Tori McKay. Here's what she had to say:
I've had this dream of having a dog at the funeral home for years, 10 to be exact.

The Bernese Mountain Dog is a very loyal, affectionate and gentle animal, and has always been my choice for a potential grief therapy dog. They have a history of being excellent therapy and support dogs, which comes from their kind disposition and laid-back personalities.

When I decided to return to Macon Funeral Home, I talked with Brian Hylton about bringing on a grief-support dog, and he was very open to the suggestion. It's my goal to work funeral visitations with Mochi (pronounced "mow-chee") when families request her, and I would also like to make visits to nursing homes in the evenings every couple weeks or so.
 
I turned 30 on January 4th and my husband and I decided that Mochi would make a wonderful addition to our family and this decade of our lives. 

In returning to the funeral home, I decided I want to make an impact on our community more than ever, and I think this is an opportune time for me to do that. Bernese Mountain Dogs do not have long life expectancies — six to eight years is typical — and I want her life to hold as much purpose as possible. 

Additionally, there is just so much research to support the benefits of having animals available during times of grief, and our community is very much in need of grief support.

So far, everyone has been so supportive, and Mochi has already made a difference in families' lives this week. I have had people reach out for grief therapy, and the reception on Facebook has been incredible.

I will be sending her to Asheville for training when she’s between six months and one year old. Until then I am training her and socializing her here!
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