Watch out Esther, there’s a new pig in town! She is the adorable LiLou, who has been co-opted to San Francisco Airport’s Wag Brigade, a specially trained group of therapy animals whose mission it is to spread joy and calm to stressed passengers.
Traveling around the holidays can be tough, so one airport has employed a special volunteer to make things a little more bearable – a pig named LiLou.
The program started three years ago. Two-year-old LiLou is the Wag Brigade’s first pig; most of the other animals are dogs. In fact, she’s the first pig to be certified by the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ assisted therapy program.
Since becoming a therapy pig a year ago, LiLou has spread cheer at hospitals and retirement homes. She and her owner, Tatyana Danilova, hooked up with the airport around two months ago.
The Wag Brigade team wears blue vests that read “Pet Me,” encouraging travelers to engage with the animals.
Danilova goes the extra mile to put the little piggy in cute accessories like a captain’s hat or a tutu. (The pair tests the outfits at home first to make sure LiLou is comfortable in them.)
Most people are so excited to see LiLou,” Danilova told TODAY in an email. “You can see a serious facial expression turn into amazement and then stretch into a huge smile.” We certainly wouldn’t be able to contain our excitement if we saw a pig at the airport. “Some people squeal from joy as well!” Danilova added.
Doug Yakel, an SFO public information officer, said the Wag Brigade has an “amazing” effect on flyers. When the animals arrive, a tense boarding area will often transform into a “relaxing, fun atmosphere.”
With all of the stress of flying this holiday season, we can only hope more airports launch a therapy animals program.
“LiLou is an example for many people to understand how impressive pigs are, and to think more thoroughly about their treatment.”
Dr Jane Goodall meets LiLou the pig
Original source:www.today.com