Heidi Huebner - Born To Talk

Subscribe: RSS

Thank you Heidi Huebner for joining me again on the Born To Talk Radio Show Podcast.

Meet Heidi.

To begin with, Heidi grew up in Kansas City, Missouri and currently lives in Los Angeles, CA. She holds a BA in Communications from Chapman University. She has been involved with many organizations helping animals and educating the public for the last 30 plus years. They include:

Director of Volunteer Programs for Los Angeles Animal Services
Founder and Executive Director of KidsnPets
Director of Pals2Pets.

Heidi joined Los Angeles World Airports in 2008. She is the Public Information Director for the volunteer section in Guest Services. Heidi developed, created and began the PetsUnstressingPassengers aka the PUP program in April of 2013 to alleviate stress and anxieties at airports. The program’s goal is to enhance the passenger experience at LAX by providing comfort and support through therapy dogs.

The program allows an opportunity to provide an overall enhanced customer experience by providing stress relief and comfort to passengers through the interaction with pets. She has assisted 91 airports nationwide and internationally to start a program. Her dream is for all airports to have a program.

The PUP Program.

There are over 80 therapy dogs. Most of their dogs are rescues and they come from all over the place. The dogs are different ages, breeds and sizes. Dogs have to pass a certification through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs before joining.

The dogs in red Pet Me vests and handlers in red shirts with the PUP logo are an excellent addition to the customer service team. Passengers love seeing warm, wet noses and wagging tails that create a friendly, “PAWSitive” experience at LAX!

Program Overview.

As traveling can create stress and anxieties at airports, the LAX Pets Unstressing Passengers (PUP) program is an opportunity to provide an overall enhanced customer experience, providing stress relief and comfort to passengers through interaction with pets.

The dogs and handlers roam the departures levels in the gate areas of each terminal. They visit passengers awaiting flights and providing comfort, as well as airport information.

Certification and Training.

PUP volunteers wishing to apply must have at least one year experience working with a recognized dog therapy organization. The dogs must be privately owned and be at least two years old. All PUP volunteers and dogs must be registered with Alliance of Therapy Dogs, a national organization that registers, insures and supports members who are involved in volunteer animal-assisted activities. These activities include visits to hospitals, special needs centers, schools, nursing homes and for the first time for Alliance of Therapy Dogs – airports.

Each volunteer goes through an initial meet and greet and walk-through with their dog to make sure there is a good fit for both volunteer and dog. Next step is in-terminal training to learn about LAX and how to assist passengers. In addition, handlers are fingerprinted and badged.

They are part of the Pets Unstressing Passengers program — or the PUP Program — and what they offer travelers is something rare: calm.

Heidi’s Takeaways.

You will learn the difference between a Service Dogs, Emotional Support Animals, and Therapy dogs. You will hear about the role that pet therapy plays in the world now. As well as, what it takes to be a therapy dog.

In Closing.

The PUP Program offers travelers something rare: calm. Heidi’s passion for raising awareness through education, program development and public speaking continues to grow nationwide. Check out this link if you are interested in learning more. My friends that volunteer there absolutely love being part of this wonderful program.

Heidi mentioned some very exciting news, about a featured documentary about the P.U.P. Story a Documentary Tail of Love and Affection. Here is the link if you are able to attend on June 26th playing at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

Continue making a difference Heidi!!!

Conversations + Connections = Community
Making the world a better place. One Story at a time.