Calgary International Airport is the latest Canadian airport to embark on the therapy dog phenomenon with its brand new program, Pre-Board Pals. The program launched on April 11th, 2016, the most fitting day of the year: National Pet Day!
YYC has partnered with the Pet Access League Society (PALS) of Calgary to bring to life the Pre-Board Pals program. PALS has been working with other facilities in Calgary since 1985, providing therapy animals to many different places.
Pre-Board Pals at YYC
The “pals” (aka adorable, cute, fluffy and friendly dogs) will be roaming around numerous locations at Calgary International Airport scouting out passengers who have been waiting in annoyingly long lines or whose flights have been delayed – in other words, the people who could use a pet to pet more than others!
Currently, there are 23 dogs in the Pre-Board Pals program! One thing that Calgary Airport is doing that others aren’t (perhaps, yet?) is developing ‘trading cards’ for each of the dogs to give to passengers who are taking advantage of the therapy dog service.
To start, YYC will have two teams of two dogs with handlers wandering the airport at a time – mostly during heavy travel times. You can expect to see the pals, especially on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Overall, the Pre-Board Pals program at Calgary International Airport is there to help enhance the passenger experience at the airport – and we can certainly expect it to be a success given Calgary’s reputation for great western hospitality.
Benefits of Airport Therapy Dogs
There are all kinds of benefits to petting a pet at the airport – or anywhere, for that matter! It’s been known to lower blood pressure, release endorphins that cause a calming effect on your body, lessen depression, and lower anxiety – just to name a few.
So next time you’re departing from Calgary International Airport, make sure you scope out a furry pal to a pet before your flight and board the plane with a stress-free smile.
See where else you can get licked in Canadian airports here. Enjoy your flight!
