Meet Our Mid-Valley: Kym Herring and her bulldog, Hazel, bring comfort during grief

Kym Herring didn’t plan on her English bulldog, Hazel, becoming a licensed therapy dog. But soon after she came into her life, Herring knew it was meant to be.

Herring is the office manager at Belcrest Memorial Park, a cemetery in south Salem, where she helps clients plan services including funerals and burials.

Hazel started coming to work with Herring when she was 12 weeks old, and Herring instantly noticed a shift in the attitude of staff.

Working in deathcare can be a heavy profession, and sometimes it’s difficult to deal with so much grief, Herring said.

The staff play with Hazel during morning meetings and go into Herring’s office throughout the day for a “Hazel hug.”

“It has definitely changed the whole environment,” said Herring.

Now 9 months old, Hazel also has been able to provide comfort to families who come in to arrange services, sitting quietly beside them or playing with them.

“She's very intuitive. If people are upset, she'll just kind of go up and sit by them,” said Herring.

After her first birthday, Hazel will be trained for eight weeks as a licensed therapy dog, then she can officially become a certified Belcrest employee.

Herring said Hazel has impressed her with how well she responds to others and is looking forward to seeing her grow as a therapy dog.

Herring has worked in deathcare for 14 years, starting in the funeral home her family used after her mother was murdered in Salem. She was 19 when her mother was buried at Belcrest.

Herring said working in deathcare allows her to help others struggling with grief and support them.

“All grief is different, and all grief is unique, but it’s grief, nonetheless,” she said.

And having Hazel in the office has helped with staff morale.

She said English bulldogs have funny, cute faces. "You can't help but smile when you see it."

And Hazel's personality has won clients over. Some who used to mail or call in payments now stop by just so they can see her, Herring said.

“They will actually come in the door and go ‘Hazel!’ and she’ll run to them,” she said. “So she’s definitely made an impact.”

Sydney Wyatt covers health care in the Mid-Willamette Valley for the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions, and tips to her at SWyatt@gannett.com or (503) 399-6613

The Statesman Journal’s coverage of healthcare inequities is funded in part by the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, which seeks to strengthen the cultural, social, educational, and spiritual base of the Pacific Northwest through capacity-building investments in the nonprofit sector.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Kym Herring and her bulldog Hazel provide comfort during time of grief