Interesting idea a friend told me about.

I think that may be an excellent idea. I know of a family that lost their mother. The mother's dog was by her side most of time since up till and including her passing at home. When she passed away at home and they came to get her body, the family walked the dog along with the gurney out to the ambulance and watched her being loaded into it. I know the children that adopted her dog and they told me they thought the dog made a much better transition to them because the dog understood the mother had passed and didn't abandon her dog. These children knew the dog but because of schedules and a lot of distance they could not visit often. Dogs know what's going on if they're included.