Beacon Blesses the Grieving
Jamin Mohler and Beacon
The cozy fellowship was more than inviting. Table tops were decorated with pumpkins and fall-colored floral arrangements. At the front of the room was a feast just waiting to be eaten. The aroma of turkey wafted throughout the room, and I realized I would be getting an early Thanksgiving dinner. I smiled at the thought.
I had driven from Meridian, Idaho, to Grandview, Washington, to share my testimony. I call it “Hanging On To Hope.” It is the story of God’s faithfulness in my life, a tale I never tire of telling.
But wait! A man and a dog just walked in.
‘This was a ladies' lunch. And who would bring a dog to an event like this?’
Now, don’t get me wrong, I love dogs. I just have severe allergies and hoped I wouldn’t begin sneezing or have an asthma attack.
I shook my head. ‘Where was this faith I was getting ready to talk about?’
A few minutes later, I was ushered to the front table, where the man and his large canine soon joined me.
Upon closer inspection, I noticed the dog was wearing some kind of vest. A sense of guilt washed over me; this was a service dog. It was also a labradoodle, a breed I had heard was hypoallergenic. I felt myself relax.
“Hi! I’m Jamin Mohler,” the middle-aged man said as he reached out his hand in greeting. “And this is Beacon.”
I grasped his hand and introduced myself. I reached out to begin patting the dog on his head, but Beacon was off greeting others. I checked my program and noted that Jamin was the other luncheon speaker.
‘Of course. Why else would he be at a ladies’ luncheon?’
After a delicious feast, we were entertained by a talented local singer. Then, Jamin was introduced.
“I never considered myself much of a dog person,” he began, and immediately, my interest piqued.
He went on to assure me that Beacon, an Australian Labradoodle, was, in fact, hypoallergenic. He was not a service dog but a certified therapy dog for his business – a funeral home.
I shifted in my seat and leaned in closer to listen.
Beacon began his training at just two weeks old and came to Jamin knowing fifty different commands. Now, at nine months old, he has earned a distinct position at the Brookside Funeral Home. He is the Director of Empathy and Community Engagement.
According to his owner, Beacon appears to have a sixth sense and will gravitate to the grieving. He has been trained to sit with widows, small children, or anyone in need of some extra comfort during funeral services. Jamin also takes him on visits to nursing homes, hospitals, and the Ronald McDonald House throughout the Yakima Valley in Washington.
Beacon heads off to each day, donning his vest and red bow tie. Jamin jokes that Beacon is considered part of the staff and even has his own schedule at the funeral home.
“People used to call and ask when I was available to help them with service arrangements,” he tells the group, “Now, they call and ask when Beacon is available.”
Beacon is a working dog who requires recertification every two years to keep his status as a comfort dog. Jamin uses him to share the love of Jesus with the greater community as well as the funeral home staff. At the end of the day, however, Beacon’s vest and bowtie are removed. It is then this role changes to a beloved pet to Jamin, his wife, and two sons.
If you'd like to follow along with Beacon's journey throughout the community, you can follow him on Instagram @Beacon_thetherapydog.
He has also been featured on the local Yakima news.
Beacon was trained through Ultimate Canine in Indiana. https://ultimatecaninetraining.com/ also has a Facebook page.