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NewsDepth Petting Zoo: Comfort Dogs

The holidays are supposed to be a time filled with happiness and cheer. But anyone who has to get on an airplane to see friends and family knows that it can be a time of stress and aggravation.


  --REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS--
PASSENGERS AT AIRPORTS ARE USED TO SEEING THIS..
DOGS ROAMING THE TERMINALS LOOKING FOR ANY POTENTIAL TROUBLE.
BUT IN SOME AIRPORTS, LIKE LAX, PASSENGERS SEE THIS..
(NATS)"Hi baby!"
COMFORT DOGS.
(Marwick Kane/PUPS Volunteer)"It's home life, it's traffic, whatever. But if we can put half those passengers on that plane with a smile on their face, talking to each other, you've released all that tension for the flight."
IT'S A PROGRAM CALLED "PUPS" PETS UNSTRESSING PASSENGERS.. DESIGNED TO MAKE THE AIRPORT EXPERIENCE MORE PLEASANT AND LESS TAXING.
(Marwick Kane/PUPS Volunteer)"I don't see anybody smiling. I don't see the passengers talking to each other or to the staff. And when you bring the dog into the room you scan the room and it's just smiles from wall to wall. People get out of their seats. They come over to you"
AT THE LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ABOUT FORTY REGISTERED THERAPY DOGS HAVE UNDERGONE A YEAR OF TRAINING TO VOLUNTEER WITH THEIR OWNERS TO ROAM THE TERMINALS.
THE DOGS CAN BE ANY BREED.. AS LONG AS THEIR TEMPERMENT CAN HANDLE CROWDS.
(Jonathan Perez/Passenger) "It made my day so much better. Makes me relaxed for the flight."
(Sara DiMeo/Passenger) "It made me feel good. I just wanted to go over and pet them. Made all the kids smile."
FOR TODAY'S HEALTH MINUTE, I'M HOLLY FIRFER.