Support dogs get training at Vancouver International Airport
Credit to Author: Postmedia News| Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2019 01:22:56 +0000
On Tuesday, Vancouver airport hosted the Pacific Assistance Dogs Society (PADS) and B.C. & Alberta Guide Dogs to allow them to train several dogs on-site.
The pooches were taken through the entire pre-flight boarding process, including entering the airport, passing through security and boarding an Air Canada aircraft.
The tour is part of a new ‘familiarization’ program run by the airport in partnership with PADS and the B.C. & Alberta Guide Dogs.
PADS breeds, raises and trains certified assistance dogs, partnering them with people living with disabilities and community-care professionals. B.C. and Alberta Guide Dogs trains dogs for people who are blind or visually impaired, individuals with autism, and military and RCMP veterans.
Part of their training will now include a visit to YVR, where puppies will go through the entire pre-flight process. Together with their trainers, they enter the airport, go through security and board an aircraft. They also practise deplaning.
The goal is to make the dogs familiar with plane travel, so, when they graduate, they’ll have no problem guiding people with disabilities through the airport.
Service dog in training, Dinah, waits patiently at the feet of handler Greg Howard while on a plane during a familiarization tour at YVR, Richmond, October 29 2019.
A service dog in training from the Pacific Assistance Dogs Society waits during a familiarization tour at YVR, Richmond, October 29 2019.
Service dogs in training and their handlers wait to board a plane during a familiarization tour at YVR, Richmond, October 29 2019.
Toby sniffs Annie-Rae Pennington as they wait for a service dogs in training familiarization tour at YVR, Richmond, October 29 2019.
A service dog in training and a handler go through airport security at YVR during a familiarization tour, Richmond, October 29 2019.
A service dog looks up at its handler during a familiarization tour at YVR, Richmond.
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