|
SFO's "Wag Brigade”
In The Washington Post:
Stressed while flying? At one airport, an ‘A-list celebrity’ pig can help. https://www.washingtonpost.com/resiz...6MEYOTD74A.jpg *** For the past six years, San Francisco International Airport has partnered with the SF SPCA to create the “Wag Brigade,” a program through which certified therapy animals roam SFO terminals, interacting with passengers to relieve preflight anxieties. Well-behaved and child-friendly, the animals all have bold personalities, said Jennifer Kazarian, guest services manager at the airport. Each goes through extensive training, including a canine good-citizen test. *** The brigade consists of 22 dogs, yes, but one of the stars is LiLou, a 5-year-old Juliana pig. One look at LiLou’s Instagram is enough to see why: With her captain’s hat, bright-red hoofs and vest that says “Pet Me!,” she’s a favorite among airport guests. “She’s like an A-list celebrity walking through the airport,” Kazarian said. “She attracts a lot of attention.” In addition to being hypoallergenic, LiLou can do tricks like her four-pawed companions, including playing a toy piano. The reaction to seeing her, from passengers and some of the dogs, is often bewilderment. Kazarian said some fliers will walk backward on moving walkways to chase LiLou down. *** |
... of course this is @ SFO :rolleyes:
|
Originally Posted by kennycrudup
(Post 31734349)
... of course this is @ SFO :rolleyes:
If you had clicked on the link, you would have seen this just below the headline: At least 50 hubs nationwide now have therapy animals. |
Where else has a pig wandering the gates?!
|
Originally Posted by kennycrudup
(Post 31734349)
... of course this is @ SFO :rolleyes:
|
MSP has long had therapy dogs, especially around busy holiday travel periods. Now there's a cat too.
|
Originally Posted by kennycrudup
(Post 31736766)
Where else has a pig wandering the gates?!
|
Maybe FT is full of people so comfortable with flying that these service animals are seen as a joke or unnecessary, but i've definitely come across my share of travelers who could use a bit of calming before and/or during flight.
If this helps, then great. Imagine the kids at the airport love this too. I support this. |
Originally Posted by kennycrudup
(Post 31736766)
Where else has a pig wandering the gates?!
|
Originally Posted by KathyWdrf
(Post 31739138)
I don't know, but perhaps SFO will start a trend (if it hasn't already). ;)
|
Originally Posted by Visconti
(Post 31738525)
At least it's not a goat or donkey.
https://www.npr.org/2017/05/10/52778...h-a-mini-horse As of the date of the article, the mini-horses only showed up at CVG twice a month. And, Some passengers enjoy the animals so much that they call the airport to schedule flights around their visits. Visits to nursing homes and schools are also a regular part of the horses' schedule. Their owner is already working on a new idea for a therapy animal — donkeys. |
I saw that pig walking through the airport a few weeks ago. I'd just presumed he was a new recruit pilot for Spirit Airlines...
(Yeah, OK, Spirit don't fly to SFO, but...) |
Originally Posted by KathyWdrf
(Post 31743181)
Funny you should mention that -- CVG has therapy horses. OK, they're miniature horses. From 2017:
https://www.npr.org/2017/05/10/52778...h-a-mini-horse As of the date of the article, the mini-horses only showed up at CVG twice a month. And, (Bolding mine)[/color] |
Originally Posted by MSPeconomist
(Post 31747428)
They're cute but are they "house" (airport) broken? Or do they wear diapers for their airport duties?
|
| All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:10 pm. |
This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.