At LAX Hilton
Parking, we are continually looking for ways to make the whole process of
traveling by plane easier for everyone. It’s why we offer complimentary shuttle
and concierge services to our customers. So, as you can imagine, we were
delighted to hear that officials at LAX have been running a new program to
alleviate the stress associated with flying out of the airport.
The program, known as Pets Unstressing Passengers (PUPS), is
currently celebrating its one-year anniversary. Through the PUPS program, 29
service dogs of all breeds – including an Irish wolfhound named Finn – greet passengers
after they go through security screenings. The dogs and their handlers are
identifiable by the red vests they wear. The goal of the program is to take
advantage of the calming effects that dogs can have on travelers.
The use of service dogs for their calming abilities is
already a fairly well-accepted practice for individual travelers. If you have
flown out of LAX recently, chances are you have encountered at least one other
passenger going through the terminal with a service dog. Since many people
experience anxiety when flying, holding a dog can be a great source of comfort.
The dogs used in the PUPS program are registered with Therapy Dogs, a national organization
with the goal “to provide registration, support, and insurance for members who
are involved in volunteer animal assisted activities.” Dogs registered with
this program usually visit people in hospitals, nursing homes, and special
needs centers, among other places. The therapeutic benefits of having these
dogs around have been proven, with new benefits discovered all the time.
When it comes to LAX, keeping passengers calm with these
service dogs seems like a no brainer. The therapeutic effects of petting and
interacting with these dogs are seen every day in the terminals at LAX. The
next time you travel, keep an eye out for the dogs in the red vests to see if
they can alleviate your travel stress.
