The trend of airport therapy animals started not long after Sept. 11, 2001, when an airport chaplain at San Jose’s Mineta International brought her pet dog to the terminal to help travelers relax before their flights. As the number of people flying has increased in the years since so have the number of airports that have adopted therapy animals. These days, you’ll find more than dogs inside the terminal. Some very unexpected creatures are also providing stress relief and distraction.
You Can’t Force It: Why Environment Fit Matters in Therapy Dog Work
April 1, 2026
By Tara Hoover, ATD Member Learning What “Fit” Really Means When I got my first therapy dog certified back in 2012, we began visiting a
