Portland International Airport expects nearly a million travelers to pass through during the holiday season, but this year they have some very special helpers keeping everyone calm and happy. More than 20 therapy dogs and their volunteer handlers walk through the airport year round to brighten the days of stressed passengers, flight crews, and airport staff who need a mood boost. During December, the dogs are joined by two incredibly popular therapy llamas named Panda and Beni, who wear festive outfits and pose for selfies with delighted travelers. Shannon Joy from Mountain Peaks Therapy Llamas and Alpacas says her favorite moment is watching blank faced travelers turn a corner, spot a llama, and watch their whole body melt with excitement.
The llamas are hand picked for their friendly personalities and actually enjoy all the attention they receive from crowds, though Joy reminds everyone that you cannot force a 300 pound llama to do anything it doesn’t want to do. Each therapy animal has its own trading card with their name and personality details that visitors can collect as they meet different dogs and llamas throughout the terminal. Handler Kathy Wentworth, who works with a former service dog named Lisa Lu, loves seeing people’s faces light up when they encounter the animals. While the llamas only visit during the holidays, therapy dogs are at the airport about five days per week all year long, with teams dressing up for special occasions like Valentine’s Day, Halloween, and Saint Patrick’s Day to spread even more joy.
