
Therapy dogs at Sacramento International Airport are helping travelers ease the stress of flying. The program, known as the Boarding Area Relaxation Corps (BARC), brings friendly dogs to the airport to offer passengers comfort and companionship.
The volunteer dogs are part of Lend a Heart, a nonprofit organization that has supported the program for about a decade. Greeting travelers after security, the dogs provide a welcome distraction from travel anxiety and give passengers a chance to relax, pet them, and enjoy a cheerful moment before their flights.
The BARC team visits the airport on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, but more volunteer dog-and-handler teams are needed. Through these visits, the program aims to make air travel a little less stressful, one wagging tail at a time.