Nervous travelers at Skopje Airport, who are anxious and don't feel ready to travel by plane, have Dino, the golden retriever, available in the departures hall to help them relax.
Better known by the nickname "Zen Dog", Dino, a 4-year-old dog regularly visits Skopje Airport to ensure a more relaxing and enjoyable travel experience for travelers.
“We know that air travel can be stressful,” says Maja Bayalska Georgievska, communications director of the management company that runs Skopje Airport.
For this reason, Dino passes through airport boarding gates and allows passengers to pet him or take selfies with him before boarding the plane.
"Even when travelers don't approach him, he tries to interact with them," explains Vesna Kiskovska, his trainer. "He's a golden retriever, a breed of dog that likes to make as many friends as possible," she adds.
Since November, Dino has been to the airport dozens of times, usually during peak hours. Each time, the feedback has been "very positive."
The program is the first of its kind in the region, according to the management company. According to various studies, aerophobia, or the excessive or irrational fear that a person experiences in connection with flying, is common among travelers. Dogs, however, seem to have the unique ability to help combat stress in humans.
According to a 2021 study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, "assistance dogs can make patients with anxiety disorders feel more confident, facilitate social activity, and reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness ." (A2 Televizion)
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