Therapy dog program takes flight at Regina airport

REGINA – Volunteers with St. John Ambulance are trying to reduce stress and anxiety at the Regina Airport by bringing in therapy dogs for passengers to interact with while they wait for their flight.

The dogs are part of a pilot program but there’s potential for the furry friends to be a regular sight.

“Our passengers have enough stress going through an airport when they’re travelling especially this time of year with the weather and all. Anything we can do to help our passengers relax,” said Jim Hunter, CEO of the Regina Airport Authority.

St. John Ambulance has 130 teams of handlers and dogs across Saskatchewan. The airport in Saskatoon has already launched a similar program.

In Regina, the teams have been volunteering at the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre and at the University.

“There’s no set breed, no set age, no set gender, no set size. We have rescue dogs. We have full-breed dogs. We have fancy show dogs,” said Ashley Balysky, community services coordinator with St. John Ambulance.

Last year, only 30 per cent of the dogs that tried out for the St. John Ambulance therapy program made the cut. “What we’re looking for is some basic obedience, but more importantly is their temperament,” said Balysky.

Michaele Mintz and her great Pyrenees, cross Australian cattle dog named Molly have been volunteering with the therapy program since October.

“I adopted her just over a year ago and right away just knew her temperament. She’s very mellow,” said Mintz.

Jackie Daborn and her pomeranian named Venus have been with the program for three years.

“She’s very relaxed. She’s not the typical pom. She’s not yapping out in the public,” said Daborn. “She’s a retired show dog.”