The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
DEJOHN FUNERAL HOME WELCOMES NEW ADDITION
Meet Gio, DeJohn Funeral Homes newest therapy dog
DeJohn Funeral Homes and Crematory recently welcomed its new therapy dog, Giovanni, also known as Gio.
The 5-month-old non-shedding, hypoallergenic Portuguese water dog is currently growing and training to join the therapy dog program at the Willoughby Hills funeral home.
Gio was born in September and was welcomed into the DeJohn family in December. He is full of playful energy and has begun his Good Citizen training and will then begin therapy dog training in about a year to provide support to families at the funeral home and in the community.
Ross DeJohn Jr., chief executive officer and funeral director, got the inspiration around 12 years ago, after attending a funeral director convention where there were talks about possibly using therapy dogs in the funeral homes.
DeJohn couldn’t shake the idea. He knew the impact it
“Death can be a challenging time in people’s lives, and there is just something that a dog does to people, it makes them smile. Coco and Gio love people and are happiest when they are offering their services with love, compassion and friendship.” — Ross DeJohn Jr., Chief executive officer and funeral director
would have.
“I came home to my wife and said ‘I think I want to get a dog,’ “he recalled. “She said we haven’t had a dog in 20 years and was worried about us not being at home enough. I told her what if I could take the dogs with me, to work. I told her I was going to start a therapy dog program.
“I figured if you can go to nursing homes and hospitals and see dogs, why not a funeral home.”
After that, DeJohn rescued his first therapy dog, Magic, who was a part of the DeJohn funeral home family from 2008 until 2018, offering love and affection to thousands.
DeJohn knew he had to keep the program strong. Enter Coco.
Coco is also a Portuguese water dog and will be 7 years old in May. She was welcomed into the DeJohn family in 2013.
Coco completed her therapy dog training and has been a member of Therapy Dogs International, Inc. since 2017. Coco has helped adults and children
ease their minds away from their problems at hand with her unconditional love and friendship.
As certified therapy dogs, Coco and eventually Gio provide comfort and emotional support to families during their grief. They give support to adults and children when attending funeral services or visiting nursing homes, hospitals, and schools.
“They just love being around people,” DeJohn said. “They love to be petted, that is what therapy dogs are for, to provide comfort.”
DeJohn noted how families
can face difficult times, especially with a death in the family, and people can appreciate a little unconditional affection.
“Death can be a challenging time in people’s lives, and there is just something that a dog does to people, it makes them smile,” he said. “Coco and Gio love people and are happiest when they are offering their services with love, compassion and friendship. We are very excited to have Gio join our efforts in providing comfort to others during difficult and stressful times.”