CRESTVIEW — Missed, canceled and bumped flights, surprise check-in fees and lost luggage combined with screaming toddlers and reduced onboard leg room add up to frequently stressed air travelers.
But for passengers at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, a four-legged friend from Crestview brings smiles to frowny faces and relief to frayed nerves.
See photos of Dozer at the airport>>
Dozer the Therapy Dog, a familiar sight at area schools, stores, the library and rehabilitation centers, makes monthly visits to the county commercial airport to greet arriving passengers and offer a big-eyed “bon voyage” to those departing.
“We really enjoy it and passengers seem pleasantly surprised when they lay eyes on him and thrilled when they realize he’s the petting kind and he’s there to see them,” Dozer’s “mom,” Angie Nousianinen, said.
Just as youngsters lose their shyness when reading to Dozer at the library, passengers’ stress melts away after a few moments scruffing his big pointy years, she said.
“Some people are scared of flying,” Nousianinen said. “I'm one of them. Some stress over details. Did I pack every thing? Did I shut off the iron? Is my flight going to be on time? Is my ride going to be there?”
VARIETY OF FRIENDS
Nousianinen said Dozer has been greeted by a wide variety of travelers, including members of the military whom he reminds of pets they left behind when they deploy, or who are waiting to meet them when they return.
“Many fly into our area for vacations or to visit family members, but not every flight brings joy,” she said. “It’s not always a vacation or a reunion.
“A passenger Dozer once spent time with drove this point home for me when they called her flight. She turned to say goodbye to Dozer one last time and I noticed she was holding a perfectly folded American flag tightly against her chest.”
Encountering Dozer at a time when some people — including celebrities — claim their menagerie of mammals and reptiles are their “therapy pets” is also an opportunity to teach the traveling public about what a trained and certified therapy animal really is.
“As well as the joy it brings, I'm enjoying the opportunity it provides to educate people about therapy dogs and service dogs and the dangers that can arise if they interfere with a service dog in any way,” Nousiainen said.
UNFRIENDLY SKIES
As the busy summer travel season gets underway, skies will continue to become more stressful, travel experts say.
“Flying today is the equivalent of traveling via Greyhound bus in the 1970s,” Victoria Person-Goral, a USA TODAY travel writer, stated.
“A lot of rudeness and incivility comes from stress, and there's so many ways to be stressed when flying these days,” etiquette expert Anna Post, Emily Post’s great-great-granddaughter, said.
At Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, Dozer and his mom alleviate some of travel’s incivility.
“We never know who we will meet each month,” Nousianinen said. “Many times it's people from right here in Crestview or people coming to visit one of us. Many times it's our fine military coming and going from Eglin to who-knows-where.
“Sometimes we meet people on a great day for them, and sometimes on one of the worse days of their lives. We may not know what's going on in their lives but I know we will make an impact in some small little way.”
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview therapy dog calms unfriendly skies (PHOTOS)