by Hannah Meltzer and Travel writer, The Daily Telegraph, December 7, 2016
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has this week introduced its first-ever therapy pig. The hog in question is LiLou, a Juliana-breed pig with a winning personality and keen sense of fun - shown in her outlandish outfits and “painted nails”.
LiLou joins the airport’s Wag Brigade team of therapy animals - including more than 300 dogs cats and rabbits - which are tasked with calming down stressed passengers.
LiLou can be seen sporting costumes, including a jaunty pilot's hat LiLou is the first known airport therapy pig in the United States
Her costumes may seem a little frivolous, but the therapy animal scheme is not to be snorted at: the SFO Wag Brigade is certified by the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SF/SPCA), as part of its Animal Assisted Therapy programme.
“It’s wonderful to witness the surprise and delight that LiLou brings to people during therapy visits,” said Jennifer Henley, of the SF/SPCA.
The airport already uses therapy dogs, cats and rabbits All the animals in the therapy scheme are chosen for their calm and friendly temperament
According to SFO, the scheme is designed to “make passenger travel more enjoyable” and the animals, which wear “Pet Me!” badges, have been “carefully selected for their temperament and airport suitability.”
LiLou also visits hospitals and residential homes in the city Animals are used to calm stress passengers across airports in the US With the addition of LiLou, we can look forward to more moments of surprise and delight for guests at our airport.”
San Francisco is not the first airport to resort to unorthodox methods to soothe its passengers, amid mounting security queues and delays at US terminals. Earlier this year, Telegraph Travel reported the introduction of circus performers at San Diego Airport to diffuse tensions.
Meanwhile, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport introduced “therapy unicorns” - miniature horses with neon painted manes.
LiLou is not the only swine to offer support: Hamlet The Beach Hog has crossed continents with his owner Megan Peabody, who says her pig’s company helps with her flying anxiety. Animals have also been brought on flights to help calm nervous travellers. Earlier this year, writer Mark Essig caused a flurry on Twitter after posting about a flight shared with Daniel the therapy duck, while a therapy turkey was also apparently photographed on a Delta flight in January.
If you want to keep up with LiLou - who also visits hospitals and residential homes in San Francisco - you can follow her on Instagram here .
This article was written by Hannah Meltzer and Travel writer from The Daily Telegraph and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.