Therapet Benny waits for pets at the Tyler Pounds Regional Airport. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Traveling during the holidays can be stressful, especially when flying. Travelers may worry about making it to the airport on time, delays, cancelations, lost luggage, or anxiety-inducing crowds.

To ease travelers’ worries, furry — and feathery — companions were available for gentle pets Monday morning at the Tyler Pounds Regional Airport, thanks to Therapet.

“Our kids love interacting with pets,” Tyler resident Kristen Fisher said. “I think they were pleasantly surprised and very entertained… They’re having a great time petting all the dogs.”

Several dogs and a cockatoo named Cuddles not only welcomed those arriving to the airport but also those who were waiting to greet their loved ones.

“It can be hard to keep three tiny people occupied… while you’re waiting,” Fisher said. “So it was really a nice surprise to have something so fun to keep them busy while they wait for Daddy.”

Fisher brought her three children — ages 6, 2, and 1 — to the airport to pick up her husband, who is an arborist and had been away from home for three weeks to aid in efforts against wildfires in California.

“He goes for weeks at a time and then he comes home for about a week or so and then off he goes again,” Fisher said. “They’re all very excited to see Daddy.”

Therapet volunteers and the crew of canines and a cockatoo greeted incoming passengers with wagging tails and gentle encouragement to offer comfort and connection during the hustle and bustle of holiday travel.

“It’s hard sometimes for holidays coming home,” volunteer Becca Chambers said. “It may not be the easiest thing for people — (there’s) stress, anxiety. But the dogs help with the blood pressure, help slow your heart down and give peace to people when they’re traveling.”

Chambers brought Daisy, a Great Pyrenees lab mix who has been serving as a Therapet therapy animal for two and a half years.

“She will just pinpoint people out and want to meet them and I’ll go up to them like, ‘Can my dog meet you?’” Chambers said. “Whatever it is, whatever they’re going through, she’ll lean her head into them and love them. When you have a dog doing that, it makes your day better.”

Therapet, a 501©(3) nonprofit serving East Texas, is 100% donor-funded and in their 30th year with a team of more than 70 dogs, three cats, and one umbrella cockatoo.

“Working for Therapet has been the most rewarding thing ever,” Chambers said. “They bring so much peace to people, and people get to interact with all of them… they’re all well trained and people just want to love on them.”

Therapet serves 13 facilities, including Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital, Christus Mother Frances Hospital, UT Health East Texas, UT Health North Campus, Beckville ISD R.E.A.D. Program, Wayne D. Boshears Center for Exceptional Programs, Breckenridge Village, East Texas Crisis Center, Chapel Hill ISD, Lillie Russell Memorial Library R.E.A.D. Program in Lindale, Skyview Unit in Rusk, and Rusk State Hospital.

“I think (Therapet) is a great idea for families who are waiting on people,” Fisher said of the therapy animals being at the airport Monday. “This is the perfect time of year to have them here.”

Airport staff said it was a pleasure to have the Therapet crew on the grounds Monday.

“We love working with Therapet during the busy holiday season,” Airport Director Steve Thompson said. “They help us to provide our travelers and guests with a welcoming environment that reflects Tyler’s spirit of giving and supporting our community.”