It has been known that dogs are man's best friends. Lassie, Hachiko, Toto from The Wizard of Oz, Beethoven, Chloe and Papi of Beverly Hills Chihuahua are some of the dogs that have been shown in the big screen that hits box office records. For the owners, living with their beloved pets is very therapeutic specially when their tired after a long day of work or travel.
But who says that dogs are just for the houses? On October 27, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) launches its Pet Therapy Program where nearly a dozen of skilled therapy dogs with their handlers were given the spotlight.
They were cloth with "DFW K9 Crew" harnesses and vests. The dogs are on board to provide affection and relief to passengers while they wait for their flights.
"Not only do the dogs bring comfort to passengers waiting for flights, their handlers also are trained to provide an exceptional customer experience by providing directions and answering general questions about Airport amenities and services," Ken Buchanan, Executive Vice President of Revenue Management said.
Passengers have the chance to mingle with the dogs at designated areas in Terminal B, both before and after security. They are encouraged to take pictures and share on social media with the hashtag #DogsofDFW. Customers who upload three photos over a period of time will receive "DFW Terminal Bucks" or DFW-branded items.
The airport plans to expand their project to over 60 handler teams roaming throughout all terminals.
According to research, "Spending time with animals produces marked improvements in humans, affecting the physical, mental, emotional and social aspects of their well-being."
"Therapy animal teams frequently witness improvements in their clients, and measurable improvements are witnessed as well. For example, therapy dogs visit chemotherapy patients in order to lower their blood pressure to a level acceptable for treatment," the Therapy Dog Info reported.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
