After flying for how many hours in the air, you would probably feel exhausted and a bit stressed. Your wobbly knees are a sure sign that you can't handle the journey. Not only the flight experience take the life out of you, but running to pass the gates, waiting for your luggage, and even making your way out of the crowd is draining.
Your therapy? The four-legged animal in front of you. Dozens of airports have animals parading on a blue vest with a sign that says, "Pet Me!" inviting weary travelers to rest their cares on cats, dogs, and even tutu-wearing pigs.
These animal ambassadors deployed in airports are formally trained therapy diplomats. They all went certification and have experiences in nursing homes as well. A lot of volunteer animal therapy groups have chimed in the importance and benefits of having them at the terminals.
The idea started after the 9/11 attacks where a chaplain volunteer at Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) brought her therapy dog, a Boxer and Great Dane mix named Orion, to the airport to comfort travelers' apprehensions about flying. Orion was a major hit, and soon nearly 30 terminals have waggy-tailed friends welcoming visitors.
Los Angeles International Airport has its Pets Unstressing Passengers program, while Washington dog therapy group, People Animals Love is deployed to spread joy. Now, San Francisco's Wag Brigade Animal Therapy has a new member of their own - Lilou, the first pig in its program.
In a published newsletter, Dr. Jennifer Henley, SF SPCA Animal Assisted Therapy manager said, "LiLou is, so far as we know, the first pig since we started in 1981." She continued saying that "LiLou isn't just any pig; she's a Juliana breed and her mom, Tatyana Danilova, is quick to point out she's a city pig."
Whether they're dogs, cats, turtles, rabbits or pigs, the animal therapy program will surely ease dead-beat travelers.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
