Passengers facing flight delays at San Diego International Airport (SAN) found relief from an unexpected source—a group of friendly golden retrievers.
A viral video showcasing passengers’ interaction with the dogs, which was shared by TikTok user @strawberryblonduh, has garnered more than 863,000 views since it was posted on December 21.
The clip shows crowded airport scenes of travelers appearing stressed while standing around. A note overlaid on the video reads: “Flights being delayed from San Diego since last night.”
Then from among the chaos comes a couple of golden retrievers sporting harnesses labeled “Pet me.” The clips shows them roaming the terminal with their handlers, offering comfort to passengers.
“They have 30 goldens they keep on deck to relieve stress,” a caption shared with the post reads, as passengers are shown petting the dogs.
The dogs featured in the video are part of the airport’s “Ready, Pet, Go” program.
According to the airport’s website, the volunteer program uses therapy dog teams to provide “stress relief and comfort to passengers” through interactions with these canines.
“Trained dogs and handlers roam through the departures levels in the gate areas of each terminal, visiting passengers awaiting flights and providing relief, as well as airport information,” the website explains.
The therapy dog teams work alongside Volunteer Airport Ambassadors, who try to address passenger questions while ensuring the dogs’ safety and security. Each therapy dog team commits to at least two to three two-hour shifts monthly, the airport notes.
Interactions with dogs can decrease stress and “induce positive emotional responses,” according to the findings of a study published in PLOS One in March 2024.
The participants “felt comfortable and natural while walking with a dog and relaxed when massaging it” and “showed significantly lower stress moods” in all the activities they performed, the study reported.
The research also found that “specific dog activities could activate stronger relaxation, emotional stability, attention, concentration, and creativity by facilitating increased brain activity.”
‘True Heroes’
The viral airport TikTok video drew enthusiastic responses from viewers.
User Samantha Elana remarked: “This is the most San Diego thing ever and I love it lol.”
Another user, Kara | travel girlie, praised the dogs as “true heroes,” while user4817415343077 noted: “Dogs working overtime to prevent mass chaos.”
MurdockBrett shared their appreciation for the San Diego airport, writing: “I weirdly enjoy the San Diego airport and this would essentially shoot it straight to the top of my list.”
And user @im.madeleineeee noted: “I would never be impatient in an airport if they all had emotional support animals.”
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.
A stock image of a golden retriever therapy dog seen surrounded by a group of people. A video showing “emotional support” golden retrievers helping passengers “relieve stress” during a flight delay has gone viral on TikTok.
iStock / Getty Images Plus
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