United Lets the Dogs Out to Relieve Travel Stress at Airports
How can you be mad about a delayed flight with a cute pup like this looking into your eyes? (Photo: United Airlines)
There’s no doubt about it — traveling at Christmas is stressful.
There are a million things that can trigger stress and anxiety at the airport, but United Airlines is hoping its latest program will help you to breathe easy.
For the second year in a row, United is bringing comfort dogs to airports around the U.S. with its United Paws program.
From now until Dec. 23, 230 dogs — primarily golden retrievers — will be on hand to greet travelers at their gates after they pass through security.
While petting a dog might see trivial, science shows that it actually has a positive effect on your health.
Related: This Man Drove a Million Miles To Save 30,000 Dogs
“Research shows that just petting a dog releases oxytocin, the hormone associated with bonding and affection, and also decreases levels of stress, helps us breathe easier, and lowers our blood pressure,” says veterinary consultant Dr. Walter Woolf.
The professionally trained comfort dogs will be wagging and cuddling passengers at airports in Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles and Newark, as well as at Washington/Dulles.
The United Paws crews will greet travelers each day between 9 a.m. and noon, and between 1 and 4 p.m.
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