Moscow Domodedovo Airport, Russia, has partnered with animal rights charity Second Life to launch an initiative where passengers can interact with four therapy dogs to help relieve stress and anxiety before their flight.
Moscow Domodedovo Airport created a dedicated area for the four canines which included a beagle named Fizzy, a husky named Nami and two mutts called Klepa and Lusha. All of the dogs live in families with children and have all the necessary medical records.
Stanislav Pereshein, CEO, Second Life, said, “We all know that communication with animals calms us down. Many people have a fear of flying or pre-flight anxiety and a dog therapist and their pet is an ideal way to help people cope with stress and getting ready to board.”
Daria Korshonuva, PR director, Moscow Domodedovo Airport, said, “Canine-assisted therapy is quite popular around the world. For instance, Milan Malpensa Airport has therapy dogs as a part of its pet therapy initiative. Our airport invited four-legged friends to de-stress travelers. We are planning on conducting several similar meetings during the year.”
Canine-assisted therapy is the most popular and widespread type of animal-assisted therapies. It was recognized as an effective form of treatment in 1961 when American child psychiatrist Boris Levinson noted that his patients responded positively to dogs present at their sessions.