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Anxious travellers navigating the bustling Istanbul Airport now have some four-legged friends to help them stay calm and carry on. A new “Therapy Dog Team” of cuddly canine companions has been unleashed at the major transit hub to provide some much-needed paw-sized stress relief.

The innovative program launched in late February after months of intensive training to prepare the pups for the distractions of the crowded terminals. Five specially certified therapy dogs have been cleared to roam the concourses and greet frazzled passengers with warm licks and wagging tails.

“We noticed many travellers experiencing anxiety and wanted to create a more relaxing environment,” explained Semin Ozturk, the airport’s head of customer experience. “What could be better than providing some furry, unconditional love to soothe nerves during the stressful realities of air travel?”

The dogs, which include retrievers, shepherds, and a bull terrier, have all undergone rigorous behavioral coaching to ensure they remain unflappable even amid the roar of jet engines and cacophony of announcements. Handlers have worked tirelessly to condition the canines to ignore tempting smells, sudden loud noises, and being approached by overeager petting enthusiasts.

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Estelle Martin, a frequent flyer who recently encountered Rufus the therapy golden retriever, raved about the positive impact. “I was feeling so frazzled after my flight got delayed. But as soon as I saw that sweet face, I just melted. Rufus is the best anxiety therapy I could ask for!”  

The cuddly recruits are already becoming celebrities at the airport, with passengers lining up for selfies and ear scratches. Officials hope the innovative program will help enhance Istanbul’s reputation as a welcoming transit hub and inspire other airports to follow their lead in putting pet-assisted therapy to work.

So for those Istanbul travellers dreading the hectic check-in lines, security screenings or that dreaded middle seat, a wagging tail and sloppy kiss could be all it takes to turn anxiety into pure canine bliss.