As any canine lover will tell you, dogs have a way of bringing comfort and cheer to the people who love them. That’s why they are some of the most sought-after guests at such settings as nursing home facilities, hospitals, schools and even funeral homes.
It’s been several months since Lollypop “Lolli” Levinson joined the staff at Sol Levinson & Bros. funeral home at 8900 Reisterstown Road. Since then, her owner, Matt Levinson, president of Sol Levinson, has seen the auburn-haired mini Goldendoodle bring solace to funeral home staff, visitors and families in mourning.
“She’s the best employee,” says Levinson, whose family has owned the Pikesville funeral home since its inception in 1892. “When my wife [Katelyn] went back to work full-time, I didn’t want to leave Lolli at home alone. So I started bringing her into work, and our team — the Sol Levinson family — fell in love with her.”
Levinson says the concept of having “bereavement dogs” like Lolli at funeral homes and other institutions is “not new,” although the practice is a first for his business, which also has locations in Columbia and Annapolis.
According to the American Kennel Club, dogs have been utilized in therapeutic settings to provide comfort as far back as the 18th century. The New York City-based club notes that the therapy dog movement has taken off over the past few decades, with the use of canines in funeral homes being the most recent example.
Levinson stresses that Lolli, who is 1½, has not received training as a therapy dog, but “we’re looking into getting her more professional training in the future. …
“When families meet Lolli, she creates a really nice environment for them,” he says. “She takes their minds off what they’re dealing with and makes funeral arrangements go easier. They get down and pet her, and they smile. Our staff members light up when she comes in every day, and they ask about her when she’s not here.”
Levinson says Lolli has been known to greet every member of a grieving family separately. He says she senses when a family member is particularly sad and “gravitates toward that person.”
“I’ve had older people get on the ground with her, rub her belly and share a nice moment with her,” Levinson says. “Lolli’s always looking for ways to make people happy.”
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