Squad goals: YUL gets 30 companion dogs for anxious travellers

Passengers at Montréal-Trudeau have been enjoying a new entertaining and soothing experience at the airport since the beginning of October. 

A squad composed of 30 dogs has been formed by Aéroports de Montréal (ADM) to roam around the terminal, offering moments of companionship to travellers who can admire the animals and speak with their handlers. Called YUL Pet Squad, this initiative is greatly appreciated by passengers who may be somewhat nervous or anxious in an airport environment.

Happy dogs make happy passengers

Initially implemented as a pilot project in collaboration with the Companion Animal Adoption Centres of Québec (caacQ), the squad is now an integral part of Montréal-Trudeau's efforts to improve the passenger experience.

Highlights

• The YUL Pet Squad is currently present in the international and domestic zones of the airport terminal.
• Volunteers let passengers approach the dog, but never go to them in case they have allergies or a phobia.
• The squad's name is a nod to the canine unit managed by the Airport Patrol, known as the Canine Squad.
• The caacQ coordinates and selects the dog handlers, ensuring that they meet ADM's security criteria.
• Pet owners/guardians are performing this activity on a volunteer basis.
• Each volunteer has completed a two-hour training course and visited the site with their dog to assess its comfort level in an airport setting.

"We are very proud of this initiative, which has already proven to be effective at other airports around the world. Dogs are often seen as a human's best friend and in an unfamiliar environment like ours their presence is truly comforting for passengers," said Philippe Rainville, president and CEO of Aéroports de Montréal.