LI Funeral Home Announces Addition Of Grief Therapy Dog

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY - A Suffolk County funeral home announced that they have begun providing Long Island's first grief therapy dog to local families.

Kota is a 3-year-old therapy dog currently working to care for grieving families at Moloney Family Funeral Homes with his handler and funeral home owner, Peter G. Moloney.

Kota, who was going to be put down, was rescued from a kill shelter in Arkansas several years ago by Erin Moloney. He is now helping families that have suffered a loss of their own.

"He's very docile and loving and loves to be around people and love to give kisses," Peter said in a video posted to the funeral home's Facebook page. "Families tell me after Kota spends some time with them that they love him, that it was such a nice thing to have him be around them to offer comfort in a different way.

Moloney Funeral Homes have seven locations in Suffolk including: Lake Ronkonkoma, Holbrook, Central Islip, Port Jefferson Station, Hauppauge, Bohemia and Center Moriches.

At a press conference last week, the Town of Smithtown have Kota several certificates of recognition for his service.

Earlier this month, Branch Funeral Home in Smithtown announced that they were adding a grief therapy dog to their team.

Hudson, an Australian Labradoodle, is currently in training to be a therapy dog.

The Suffolk County SPCA made a video following the announcement highlighting the importance of therapy dogs.

Image: Facebook.com/Moloney Funeral Home