The newest dogs in US airports are searching for hugs, not drugs
There's a new kind of dog in U.S. airports, but these canines aren't sniffing for drugs or bombs — they're looking for people who need a friend, a belly to rub or a paw to shake.
Airports can be very stressful places due to the crowds, long lines and security checks, and these dogs are intended to help people relax. "His job is to be touched," volunteer Kyra Hubis said of Henry James, her golden retriever that works a few hours a week at one California airport. "I just stand there with him and let the travelers talk to him."
Mineta San Jose International Airport is widely credited with introducing the first airport therapy dog in the days after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, when flights were grounded, anxious passengers were stranded and reaching friends and relatives was nearly impossible.
Then an airport volunteer got permission to bring his dog to work. The dog made such a difference that San Jose introduced a therapy dog program and now has nine dogs. Miami International Airport now has one, and Los Angeles International Airport has 30.
You never know why people are flying, said Heidi Huebner, director of volunteers at the Los Angeles airport, which launched Pets Unstressing Passengers (PUPs) in April. Travelers might be in town for a funeral, to visit a sick family member or to attend a business meeting. "You can feel the stress levels drop. People start smiling, strangers start talking to each other and everybody walks away feeling really good," Huebner said.
Dogs have to be healthy and well-mannered to work in airports, said Billie Smith, executive director of Therapy Dogs, which certifies the airport's animals. They have to be comfortable with crowds, sounds, smells — and they need to pass through security like all airport workers.
Handlers are taught to watch for people who fear or dislike dogs or those who might have allergies. In most cases, travelers approach the dogs, which are identifiable by the vests they wear.
Los Angeles' dogs are as varied as its passengers. There's a long-haired Dalmatian, a spaniel, a poodle, three Australian Labradoodles and an Irish wolfhound named Finn.
Miami's sole dog, Casey, a golden retriever, has her own website, fan mail, business cards and a role on "Airport 24/7: Miami," a weekly reality show on U.S. TV. "Casey is so pure and genuine," said Dickie Davis, director of terminal operations and customer service. "She's not asking for anything or selling anything. She is just a love magnet."
When Claudia McCaskill's family recently flew home from a vacation in Brazil, she requested Casey meet the plane to greet her 5-year-old daughter, Carina, who is autistic. She knew Carina would be low on energy and patience, and they still had a 2.5-hour drive home.
Casey and handler Liz Miller were there with a gift basket, and Carina fell in love with the dog. "Thank you for visiting us at the airport so I would be happy," Carina said in a video the family made for Casey.
美國機場最新成員，找人抱抱而不緝毒的狗狗
美國機場引進了一種新狗，這種狗不靠嗅覺找毒品或炸彈。牠們要找的是需要朋友、想要抓抓狗兒的肚子或跟狗握手的人。
機場熙來攘往，常有人大排長龍，也得進行安全檢查，因此可說充滿了壓力；前述狗兒的作用就是幫人放鬆。志工凱拉胡比斯談起她的狗狗亨利詹姆斯時說：「牠的任務就是讓人觸摸。」亨利詹姆斯是一隻黃金獵犬，每星期在加州一個機場工作數小時。她說：「我只和牠一起站著，讓旅客們跟牠講話。」
很多人把機場引進具療效犬隻之舉歸功於峰田聖荷西國際機場。這個機場在二○○一年九一一恐怖攻擊發生之後幾天，率先實施了機場療癒狗狗的計畫。當時航班停飛，心焦如焚的旅客滯留在機場內，幾乎無法和親友接觸。
當時有一位機場志工獲准帶著狗兒上班。那條狗起了很大作用，促使聖荷西市引進一項治療犬計畫；現在，這個計畫已經有九隻狗效力了。邁阿密國際機場現在只有一隻狗，洛杉磯國際機場則有卅隻。
洛杉磯機場四月時啟動了「乘客降壓寵物計畫」。機場志工主任海蒂休伯納表示，人們坐飛機的原因很難猜，乘客有可能搭飛機來參加喪禮、探望病中的親人或因公開會。休伯納說：「你可以感覺到壓力減輕了，人們開始露出微笑，原來互不認識的人也開始交談，每個人離去時感覺都很愉快。」
給在機場服務的犬隻進行認證的療效狗計畫執行主任比莉史密斯說，在機場服務的狗必須健康又有禮貌。牠們也要能適應人群、各種聲音和各種氣味，同時也和其他機場員工一樣，得通過安檢。
負責帶狗的人得接受訓練，注意怕狗或不喜歡狗的人，以及可能有過敏問題的人。在大部分情形下，這些狗都會穿著可識別的背心，而旅客則會主動接近牠們。
洛杉磯機場的狗有如乘客一樣，什麼品種都有，其中包括一條長毛大麥町，一條史賓格犬，一條貴賓狗，三條澳洲拉布拉多貴賓狗和一條名為芬恩的愛爾蘭獵狼犬。
邁阿密機場唯一的狗是一條名叫凱西的黃金獵犬。牠有自己的「個犬」網站、粉絲郵件、名片，同時也是美國電視台每星期播出一次的實境節目《邁密機場每星期七天，每天廿四小時》的角色之一。航站作業員暨客戶服務主任迪凱伊戴維斯說：「凱西非常單純，非常真摯。牠不求什麼，也沒有在推銷什麼，只是一塊愛的吸鐵。」
克勞迪亞麥克斯凱爾全家人最近到巴西度假，結束後搭飛機返國；她要求凱西接機，和她有自閉症的五歲女兒卡琳娜碰面。她知道卡琳娜玩得精力盡失且沒什麼耐性了，但一家人還得開兩個半鐘頭的車才能到家。
凱西和負責帶她的人麗絲米勒帶著一個禮物籃等著，卡琳娜非常喜歡這條狗。她在家人錄給凱西的錄影片裡說：「謝謝你們來接機，讓我很開心。」
資料來源 http://chinapost.com.tw/guidepost/topics/default.asp?id=3880&pre=1&sub=23
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