It’s officially 2023, and CertePet is back to bring in the new year with you with some heartening news. This week, our stories take us to Orange and Camden Counties. Spoiler Alert: both news reports are likely to put a smile on your face.
John Wayne Airport Introduces A Novel Way To Alleviate Stress By Allowing Therapy Animals At The Terminal
In this day and age, it’s common to hear news about airlines revoking permission to travel with ESAs aboard. However, amidst all the gloom and doom, John Wayne Airport, OC, has introduced a new way to help travelers wind down.
The Airport has partnered with Orange County Animal Allies to introduce a new therapy dog program that offers the tender and loving services of therapy dogs at the terminal. The initiative has been lovingly dubbed the AirPAWS Program.
Under the AirPAWS Program, travelers will be allowed to interact with therapy canines and even give them hugs. With delays in flights and the stress of traveling, passengers traveling via the Airport can de-stress themselves by spending time with well-behaved therapy dogs.
Orange County Animal Allies will provide human and canine ambassadors to volunteer at the Airport and help passengers feel better.
Source: NBCLosAngeles
Axel The Rottweiler Gets Nominated As The Top Therapy Dog in the USA
Axel, from Camden County, NJ, won the AKC Humane Fund Award of Canine Excellence in December 2022. Not only that, the four-and-a-half-year-old Rottweiler provided valuable services during COVID-19 by providing critical patients with comfort when their families and friends weren’t allowed to meet them.
Axel was also one of the therapy dogs to provide students and faculty members of Rob Elementary School, Uvalde, Texas, with much-needed solace after the tragic shooting incident. Axel’s nomination and win sheds a positive light on the Rottweiler breed that has been much maligned due to their supposedly ‘aggressive’ nature.
The Rottie managed to beat hundreds of nominees to claim the Award of Canine Excellence thanks to the services it provided to schools, first responders, hospitals, and others in need.
Source: Inquirer
CertaPet’s Thoughts on This Week’s News
Nothing brings more joy to members of the Emotional Support and Service Animal Community than hearing about lovable canines making a name for themselves. Moreover, it’s incredibly heartening to see public domains introducing the concept of Therapy Animals to help bring some comfort to the lives of others. Hopefully, this trend will catch on and help raise awareness about ESAs and Service Animals and why they’re so important to their handlers.
If you’re living with a mental illness, getting an emotional support animal could really help your recovery. These loving animals could ease your symptoms and help you live a happier, fuller life. If you’re ready to start the process, take our 5-minute pre-screening test for free. We’ll connect you with a licensed mental health professional, who will have a consultation with you. Then, if you qualify, you’ll get your ESA letter in no time.