2023-11-13 13:02:36
At Berlin International Airport (BER), Germany, Benny, Emi and Pepper patrol every day. The mission of these three affectionate dogs is to soothe nervous travelers waiting for their flight, particularly when going on vacation.
Benny the dachshund, Emi the black Labrador and Pepper the terrier have served as BER ambassadors to passengers in need of comfort since the start of the autumn holidays in Germany. “This allows them not to think about the wait and the stress linked to the crowds,” says a 38-year-old passenger, waiting for his flight to Turkey with his 8-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son.
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A “cursed” airport
This new pilot system was implemented in Germany’s third airport, opened in 2020 under fire from criticism. The BER, which has accumulated mishaps, is described as a “cursed” airport by the German media. Its opening was delayed for nine years due to technical difficulties and suspicions of corruption and its cost, of some 6 billion euros, was three times higher than expected.
The icing on the air cake: it opened as air travel collapsed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Threatened with bankruptcy, it had to be bailed out by taxpayers via aid of nearly 2 billion euros until 2026. Passengers also complain of malfunctions and huge queues at check-in or for To pick up the luggage.
Calm and playful dogs at the same time
After a difficult start, the BER is now “very stable”, with nearly 20 million passengers welcomed in 2022, said an airport spokesperson. Various innovations have helped reduce the crowds, but on busy days, tempers can still get heated – hence this idea of a dog patrol, inspired by Los Angeles International Airport.
The canines elicit “very good reactions”, according to the BER spokesperson. “They only approach people who are really receptive – no one is forced. » The animals are accompanied by volunteers from the Brandenburg Therapy Dog Association.
Patrols require a specific type of animal. “They must have a calm temperament, but also like to play,” explains a volunteer. However, you must be careful not to let them out for more than an hour, as it is a lot of work for a dog. And if one of them has a bad day and shows us that they are unhappy, we stop immediately. »
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