Airport therapy dogs have been a huge hit, and more are being used, according to the Associated Press.
Mineta San Jose Airport is widely credited with introducing the first therapy dog at an airport in the days after September 11, when passengers were stranded and reaching friends and family was difficult, and when flights resumed, understandably jittery about flying.
Orion was a dog owned by a volunteer airport chaplain who got permission to bring the dog to work. He was such a hit that San Jose formalized the program and now has nine dogs. Miami International joined with one dog and recently Los Angeles International Airport brought in 30 dogs and is hoping to expand the program.
"His job is to be touched," Kyra Hubis said about Henry James, the five-year-old golden retriever that she brings to San Jose airport for a few hours every week. "I am just standing there with him.
"They are talking to him," she continued. "If I need to answer for him, I do, but I am at the end of his leash, he's not at the end of mine."
These dogs take the stress out of travel for many passengers. Heidi Huebner, the director of volunteer at LAX, which launched their therapy dog program, Pets Unstressing Passengers (PUPs) in April, points out that you never know why people are traveling. They may be going on vacation, or they may be in town for a funeral or to visit a sick family member.
"You can literally feel the stress levels drop, people start smiling, strangers start talking to each other and everybody walks away feeling really, really good," Huebner said.
The therapy dogs have to be healthy, skilled, stable, well mannered and able to work on a four-foot leash, according to Billie Smith, the executive director of the Wyoming-based Therapy Dogs, Inc., which certifies the LAX dogs. They also have to be comfortable with crowds, sounds, and smells. They also have to pass through security like all airport workers.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
