WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. (WTIC Radio)—After a pause amid the pandemic, the Connecticut Airport Authority is relaunching the Bradley Buddies Therapy Dog Program in celebration of National Dog Day.
Since the program's launch in 2017, certified therapy dogs trained by Bright Spot Therapy Dogs, Inc. have greeted passengers at the the terminal of Bradley International Airport in an effort to provide travelers comfort and to alleviate stress.
However, the onset of the pandemic forced the Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) to stop the program, CAA Public Information Officer Alisa Sisic said.
According to Bright Spot Therapy Dogs Executive Director Cynthia Hinckley, the airport allowed dogs to return on rare occasions throughout the pandemic so passengers could at least find comfort in seeing them, but no petting was allowed.
Now with more people traveling and getting vaccinated, Sisic said it was a good time to bring the program back.
"We carefully had to evaluate the interests of the volunteers to return and [their] comfort levels. We also had to take the polls on what's happening on the travel landscape locally," Sisic said.
In total, the Bradley Buddies program has 17 teams, with teams being comprised of a volunteer dog handler and a therapy dog.
However, Sisic explained that while nearly all are returning with the relaunch, a few have decided to not return for the moment at least.
Teams are on a schedule where dogs come in at various teams of the week, Hinckley said, to ensure at least one team is available to greet passengers at the terminal every day, if possible.
With the relaunch, Bradley Airport is now looking to expand the program, Hinckley said. So, Bright Spot is recruiting more volunteers to help in those efforts, she said.
During the relaunch on National Dog Day, passengers had three dogs waiting to greet them, including Teach, Rambler and Willie.
The dogs, Hinckley said, "just really relax people. It takes your mind off of what you're thinking when you pet the dog."