DENVER — The most wonderful time of the year can often be the most stressful, especially if you're traveling through a crowded airport to visit loved ones and holiday gatherings.
Denver International Airport has a team of good boys and girls together with their owners on-hand and ready to help melt away that stress with its CATS or Canine Airport Therapy Squad. Since its creation in 2015, this pack of furry friends have made a big impact on travelers.
In the middle of the holiday rush at DIA, Toby the dog is able to bring the crowds to a standstill. The seven-year-old Saint Bernard Great Pyrenees is an official member of the CATS program who happily greets every guest seeking to sneak in a pat.
"He was adorable," said Teagan Condon, 8, and Ryder Condon, 10. "He was pretty cute."
Toby is one of more than 100 dogs and one cat in the airport's CATS program – all of them are certified therapy animals ready to help soothe stress.
"He's a professional, professional good boy," said 10-year-old Kyla McCarthy and seven-year-old Shae McCarthy.
"Beautiful dog, he's adorable. We want to take him home with us but I don't think he'd fit on the airplane right," said John and Zoe Picard.
Toby's parents, Michelle and Patrick Van Wies, adopted Toby when he was around six-months-old. Now nearly eight-years-old, the Van Wies' are happy to share Toby's time with others.
"He just seemed like a natural for this," Michelle said.
"Well I mean, you can see how hard he works right?" Patrick added, laughed as Toby laid on the ground awaiting an ear scratch.
But the work here is something all three look forward to when they visit DIA.
"We ask him, you want to go to work? And he's like 'Hell yeah,' and then he runs to the car and he's ready to go. He knows we have a job to do," Patrick said.
With every pet and scratch offered, Toby helps ease the holiday anxiety.
"And it makes their day. They tell us it really helps what they're going through," the pair said. "This one family that just came up, and this happens a lot here, they were here picking up the young couple because the lady's sister just died, just passed away. She was teared up, they were all teared up. And it's such a welcoming thing, such a comforting thing for people when that happens. And it happens a lot here."
These airport shifts are always busy and always rewarding.
"I think every airport should have a Toby," Kyla and Shae McCarthy said.
"But yeah, we love coming out here, it's probably one of our favorite things to do," Michelle said.
The Van Weis' said they're so happy to share Toby, especially this time of the year, and with it a little holiday cheer.
"You feel good. You drive away like OK, I think we made a difference in someone's life today and I know he did," Michelle said.
According to a spokesperson for the airport, the therapy squad program started in 2015 as an idea to bring therapy animals into a busy and hectic location where people can get stressed.
When asked about the benefits and impact of the program on travelers, DIA's spokesperson said, "We never know why someone is traveling. Whether you're passing through the airport in excitement or with a bit of anxiety, therapy animals have a way of making everyone smile. They provide unconditional love, and a simple tail wag or nuzzle can make someone's day. That's what this program is all about."
DIA said it is always accepting new recruits to the CATS program. All pets must be certified therapy animals with an accredited therapy animal organization. Find out how to have your therapy animal join the CATS team.
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