The UK’s first ever team of airport therapy dogs have been visiting Aberdeen International Airport on a regular basis since April last year.
Run by Canine Concern Scotland Trust, the therapets, known as the Canine Crew, are easy to spot in their high-vis jackets and bandanas.
The pilot launched last year, helping anxious flyers and children with special needs calm their nerves before taking their flight.
Now, chiefs at Zurich Airport have reached out to the canine crew to implement a similar scheme in its Swiss base.
Therapet’s north-east representative Diane Wood said the last eight months had been a “whirlwind of success” and credits the project’s accomplishments to its volunteers.
She added: “It has been an absolutely phenomenal last few months.
“We would have never, ever imagined it would have as successful as it is now.
“One of the highlights has definitely been winning the National Geographic Traveller’s Award for innovation.
“We have had people requesting the dogs, for instance, if they have severe anxiety or if they are the parents of children who have autism.
“These dogs can have a very calming influence on the child.”
Ms Wood said the feedback had been “wonderful” and that there had been a surge in applications from owners hoping to volunteer their four-legged friends.
She added: “We’ve also had the team who work at Zurich Airport get in touch because they’re interested in replicating our efforts.
“They’ve been looking to find out more about what we do and are looking to us for guidance on how to implement a similar scheme in Switzerland.”
The dogs are also regular visitors to nursing homes, schools, prisons and universities, where they have helped improve mental health and wellbeing, alleviate stress and calm nerves.
And the airport canine crew will be looking to expand in the new year.
Ms Wood added: “We are so lucky to have such a fantastic group of volunteers.
“They have come together as a team and they do their best, from the owners to the therapets themselves.
“As a volunteer, you know that a dog can really brighten up someone’s day and if they can put a smile on a face then we know we’ve done our job.”
Fraser Bain, airport duty manager at AIA and Diane Wood, lead representative and Trustee from Canine Concern Scotland Trust, helped bring the initiative to the terminal.
It won the National Geographic Traveller’s Award for innovation on December 4, with the pair collecting the award at a ceremony in London.
A spokesman for Aberdeen International Airport said: “Our Therapets project has been a great success since launching in 2019.
“Being rewarded for innovation by the readers of National Geographic Traveller was a huge honour.
“Our dogs also took centre stage during the Sports Personality of the Year awards, with many visitors stopping to grab a picture with our award-winning canine crew.
“The team have been doing a fantastic job and are looking forward to building on this in 2020.”
