The program has been up and running for eight years now, growing to over 10 volunteers and dogs.
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Airport traveling can be stressful, but at XNA, the Runway Rover program was created to combat that.
Created solely by volunteers and certified therapy dogs, the program brings warmth and stress relief for flyers.
“A lot of people have really bad flight anxiety, and I know instantly when I saw the dogs, I felt better, more comfortable, ready to go,” said flyer Maris Boon Cook, who experienced the Runway Rovers for the first time this week.
The therapy dogs are all trained and certified to handle any type of situation. Kara Puntriano, another flyer at XNA, said that getting to see the dogs helped her feel more comfortable too.
“Getting to see like furry little friends in the airport, which is not something that you see every day was a very cool experience,” Puntriano said.
The program has been up and running for eight years now, growing to over 10 volunteers and dogs. Olivia Tyler with XNA has seen the program grow over time.
“Watching the therapy dogs do their work, you can see if they approach somebody who’s sitting down on their phone, maybe looking a little bit stressed out, and you can just see the stress kind of melt off of somebody when they start petting dogs,” Tyler said. “I’ve seen a businessman, a little kid come and just love on those dogs. And so, I think that it brings everybody together.”
The groups work in shifts, taking one or two days out of their week to be at the airport.
The dogs and their handlers not only volunteer their time at the airport, but in other places as well.
Mellisa Freeman, one of the volunteers, said she understands the healing power dogs can have.
“People overlook what, what the healing forces of dogs can be, and that’s what the therapy dog is in whatever environment they go in to work. He also goes to Children’s Hospital Northwest Arkansas. He gets in the bed with the kids, and he can tell, you know what they need, and he can tell what the people need,” Freeman said.
Holly and her owner Kathy Farrell are more than happy to shed some of their light into the world.
“She’s a greeter at a grief share program. We go to assisted living home once a week, memory care facility. I mean, it it’s a great joy to be able to do this type of thing, and the airport is the most fun for the dogs, they get so excited when it’s time to come here.”
With thousands of people walking through XNA, halls it was a bit of a surprise for flyer Elle Moon Etheredge.
“It was such a surprise to walk in and see the dogs today. I actually just left my dog Beefsteak at home, and so to see them here and get some pets was just the best.”
If you’d like to get involved with the program or request personal therapy sessions, you can find the application here.
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