Local Funeral Home Adds First Grief Therapy Dog To Team

SMITHTOWN, NY - A Smithtown funeral home recently added a grief therapy dog to their team.

Hudson was named the official grief therapy dog of the Branch Funeral Home on 190 E. Main Street and is currently being trained to receive his therapy dog certification.

Hudson, a medium-sized apricot-colored hypoallergenic Australian Labradoodle, was born and bred here on Long Island through Labradoodles of Long Island.

Therapy dogs are specifically trained to provide affection, comfort and love to people in need.

Therapy dogs are required to have stable temperaments and very friendly, easy-going personalities because they interact with a variety of people while ‘on duty.’

They also must meet set standards to be registered and certified.

Hudson is working on his certification and is currently being trained by professional and highly-skilled trainer Sal LaMonica of Big Breed Nation.

"A dog can provide a valuable sense of reassurance, joy, or calmness to people experiencing stressful, lonely or depressing situations or general times in their life," according to the American Kennel Club.

In the case of the funeral home, Hudson’s goal will be to provide some comfort to those who are grieving and to help relieve their stress and anxiety. He may be especially helpful to children.

"We continuously strive to offer as much assistance, care, and comfort as we possibly can to the families we serve," John Vigliante, co-owner, fourth-generation funeral director, and manager of the Smithtown facility said. "Adding Hudson to our team is a natural extension of that, and we are really anxious for his certification so he can begin providing that extra comfort to families who want him."

Hudson is also a part of Vigliante’s family at home; Hudson joins John, wife Kimberly, and sons Thomas and Justin when he’s not in training or at the funeral home.

Once Hudson receives his certification, which is expected to be by January 2019, he will be available upon request at Branch’s facilities in Smithtown and Miller Place.

For more information, contact Branch Funeral Homes at 631-724-9500.

Photo via Branch Funeral Home