Did you know that many airports around the world have therapy dog programs? I did not know this until sometime last year, but now one of Ronon’s and my favorite therapy dog gigs is visiting the Philadelphia International Airport as part of the Wagging Tails Brigade!
It All Started in San José
Immediately after September 11, 2001, airports across the US were in turmoil. Trying to implement new ways to ensure the safety and well-being of passengers was massively disrupting travel. Air travelers needed more than logistical support to cope with the changes. They needed comfort and stress reduction. Recognizing that her therapy dog, Orion, would be able to help, the Interfaith Chaplain Volunteer at San José Mineta International Airport in California, Kathryn Liebschutz, asked for permission to bring him to the airport. This was the beginning of the first official airport therapy dog program in the world!
Our Very Own Program at Philadelphia International Airport
Launched in March 2019, the Wagging Tails Brigade (WTB) is PHL’s official therapy dog program. The purpose of the program is to alleviate passenger stress, but Ronon and I visit with almost as many airport, TSA, and airline employees as we do passengers. Everyone can benefit from some doggy loving!
As of May 2025, there are 22 volunteer teams of trained therapy dogs and their handlers visiting PHL. The brigade includes dogs of many shapes and sizes. They wear vests that say “Pet Me,” in sharp contrast to most dogs in the airport (service dogs and police K9s). We don’t have a set place in the airport to hang out, so you could run into a WTB team pretty much anywhere. Ronon and I mostly walk around looking for the busiest areas where people may be dealing with delays and other stress.
You may find us stopped in a hallway surrounded by pedestrians, sitting on the floor with kids waiting for their flight, hanging with flight crew getting ready to leave, or just strolling along looking for you. Ronon has comforted crying toddlers, travelers who have missed flights, flight attendants who’ve dealt with difficult passengers, travelers who miss their dogs, and airport employees who just need a doggy hug. He’s been part of so many selfies that were texted to friends and family by travelers, and we’ve spent time with people from all over the world.
How to Join The Wagging Tails Brigade
PHL is open for business 24/7/365. If each team is there for 4 to 5 hours a month like we are, that leaves an average of 145 hours each week that there is not a therapy dog on-site.
If you are interested in visiting the airport with your therapy dog, it’s a little involved to get started, but totally worth it.
The Requirements
- You must be a current member of either The Alliance of Therapy Dogs or Comfort Caring Canines, be in compliance with all rules and policies of that organization, and have at least one year of experience visiting with your dog.
- You will need to successfully complete several background checks, including an FBI fingerprint check, to get a Division of Aviation security badge.
The Process
The first step is to complete the Wagging Tails Brigade application. The detailed requirements and policies are attached to the application. Review them carefully.
Sharron Roantree is the PHL employee who manages the program, and she’ll contact you after you complete the application. She’ll meet with you and your dog and take you on a walk-through of the airport. If that goes well, she will shepherd you through the security process, which takes a couple of weeks.
After you pass the security checks and take a mini-course about airport security, you get a parking pass and a badge that allows access to the employee entrance through TSA. Parking and getting in are a breeze. Even TSA’s metal detector is quick. Your dog walks through ahead of you and then you walk through. I was originally putting a slip lead on Ronon so his gear wouldn’t set off the detector, but I don’t bother with it any more. Now, Ronon’s collar makes it beep, they pat him down, and we’re on our way.
Airport Therapy Dog Programs Around the World
I haven’t located a current, verifiable number of airport therapy dog programs across the world, but here are a few facts and figures that I found interesting.
- A comprehensive study completed by Vane Research in March 2020 found 70 airport therapy dog programs in the United States and 17 in Canada. (Source)
- A list posted on Instagram, dated February 2025, which appears to have also been created by Vane, lists 97 programs in the United States. (Source)
- Aberdeen International Airport introduced the United Kingdom’s first therapy dog program in 2019. (Source)
- Moscow Domodedovo Airport in Russia also started a therapy dog program in 2019. (Source)
- As of September 2022, Denver International Airport’s Canine Airport Therapy Squad (CATS) held the Guinness World Record for the largest airport therapy animal program, boasting 84 members. (Source)
How to Find Airport Therapy Dogs When You Travel
You can try checking the websites and social media of the airports you will be traveling through, but I’ve found that many of them do not post regularly about their programs. The best way I’ve seen to find airport therapy dogs on duty is to check the @airportherapydogs account on Instagram or check the hashtag #airportherapydogs on your preferred social media platform.
Please Reach Out!
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