Therapy dogs interact with passengers and staff as part of Mental Health Awareness Week
Passengers travelling through London Stansted who are having a ruff day have been able to take advantage of the therapeutic benefits of cuddling a therapy dog to relieve anxiety.
The airport has teamed up with a trio of four-legged friends and their handlers from national charity, Pets As Therapy, to offer de-stressing services in the departure lounge to mark Mental Health Awareness Week.
Bella the black Labrador, Sammy the Samoyed and Cato the Chow Chow, who are trained to ease tension and stress in people, were very much in demand as passengers stopped by to enjoy a stroke and a cuddle.
Stephanie Putt, London Stansted’s Accessibility Manager, said: “Bella, Sammy and Cato were very special guests and there was no doubt that their presence caught the attention of many passengers. Having the therapy dogs as part of our customer service team was wonderful, and they provided a unique experience for passengers travelling though London Stansted. We are also pleased to offer our colleagues new ways to support their mental health at work, so it was also good for the dogs to meet our terminal security team.”
Using therapy dogs is becoming increasingly popular in airports as a means of reducing passenger anxiety and improving customer service, and the airport hopes to host another outing for the trio in the future.
Vince Larkin, Regional Coordinator for Pets As Therapy, said: “We know that airports can be very stressful environments for some people, so it was great to have our therapy dogs visit to help reduce anxiety and stress for passengers and staff. We visit all kinds of places such as care homes, hospitals, hospices, schools and prisons, and bring smiles to many faces and people all ages get the chance to chat to someone — and stroke a friendly dog.”
This year, Mental Health Awareness Week is between Monday, May 13, and Sunday, May 19. The Mental Health Foundation launched the initiative in 2001 to bring together the whole of the UK to focus on getting good mental health.
