Paws for Comfort
Companion Dogs with the Power of Genuine Love  

By Andres Aguilar Heck, President of Señoriales Corporacion de Servicio, President of ALPAR, Latin America

The call came one March morning: “Andrés, my mother passed away a year ago, and I’d like to hold an anniversary memorial for her. Can your company help me?” It was a friend I hadn’t heard from in a long time. Without hesitation, I replied, “Of course we can. Celebrating lives is our specialty.” I knew we had something special to offer—a way to help families cope with grief.

As guests arrived, our unique brand ambassadors - Max, Milo, and Moli, three golden retrievers - greeted them with joyful wagging tails and comforting presence. They weren’t just dogs; they were part of our grief therapy team at Señoriales, with a presence in both Guatemala and Mexico. My friend’s daughter, who had never been fond of dogs, found comfort hugging them, changing her perception of dogs entirely. The family was deeply grateful, not just for the memorial, but for the solace these noble animals provided.

Weeks later, my friend’s daughter, stressed from her medical studies, asked if we could send a therapy dog to her university during exams. I happily agreed, and the dogs’ presence turned a simple idea into a memorable experience, providing much-needed relaxation for the students. This was just the beginning of the positive ripple effect our dogs would create.

It all started in 2014 when my father gave a golden retriever, Apollo, to my daughters. Apollo became their faithful companion, offering comfort during their formative years. Observing Apollo’s impact on my daughters and my father’s passion for dog training sparked an idea - to breed and train golden retrievers to comfort grieving families. We began with four dogs, and today we have 15, playing vital roles across Guatemala and Mexico in our mission to provide peace and companionship during times of deep sadness.

Our therapy dogs’ lives are filled with purpose, but they also require love, care, and dedication. Each dog lives with a host family, creating a close bond, and during workdays, they attend wakes, burials, and cremations, offering silent but powerful solace. Their intuition is remarkable - they instinctively know who needs them the most, bringing comfort where it’s needed most.

Through the years our project has evolved. Our therapy dogs are now invited to hospitals and children’s homes, bringing joy to those in need. Recently, I was reminded of their impact when a friend showed me a photo of his grandson with one of our dogs, Aquiles, who accompanies children in their therapies. Moments like these reaffirm the impact of our work.

Our therapy dogs have even entered the world of politics. Mambo, one of our beloved dogs, played a role in promoting a law in Michoacán to rescue and train stray dogs for community service. His presence in the state congress, where the law was unanimously passed, made Mambo a symbol of hope and change for thousands of dogs.

Today, our therapy dogs are not only helping families in grief but also assisting our sales team and participating in corporate workshops, enhancing teamwork and leadership. As brand ambassadors, they embody our mission to change lives across Guatemala and Mexico. We are also developing the “Golden Experience,” a project where people can spend time with our dogs, fostering emotional connections and finding inner peace.

In conclusion, our therapy dogs have become transformative forces, breaking down emotional barriers and inspiring resilience. They don’t just improve lives - they profoundly change them.

Read online THANOS magazine