Ontario International Airport’s therapy dog program offers comfort, smiles and collectible trading cards to travelers of all ages.

In our personal lives, our pets are sources of indescribable joy for so many of us. They brighten our lives with their companionship, their loyalty and their personalities that, just like people, are unique to each one.

That’s why one of the most distressing aspects of travel for pet owners is that we often can’t take them with us on our adventures. Traveling, especially flying, also evokes a variety of emotions in us. So in the 2010s, as airports across the country and around the world renewed their focus on customer experience and terminal amenities, travelers began seeing furry friends in the airport itself. These were specially trained animals that airports recruited to enhance traveler’s moods and sense of well-being.

One of ONT’s top priorities is the best possible customer experience. But of course, not all travel is undertaken for a happy reason and not everyone is comfortable with the process of taking a flight. There are quite frequent circumstances where someone in our facility is feeling sad, anxious or stressed. That understanding led ONT to start an airport therapy dog team as a pilot program in 2017, lovingly named the ONT Paw Squad.

For almost eight years now, the ONT Paw Squad has graced our airport’s terminals several times per month, as well as showing up for special events. Their owners are volunteers from the local community who not only bring their furry joy-givers to ONT, but also local events, businesses, schools, hospitals and places of faith around the Inland Empire.

“Each visit is an opportunity to serve ONT, to connect with people and to bring some joy and comfort to those they meet,” ONT PAW Squad team organizer Carolyn Ritchie said.

Getting Certified

Each dog in the squad has been certified as a therapy dog. The primary goal of therapy dog certification is to teach the dog to be friendly and welcoming to people of all ages, including and especially children.  

As a collective squad, their purpose is to bring smiles and wash away anxieties or fears.

Scientific research has shown that interacting with animals lowers the production stress hormones in our brain/body and stimulates the production of the “feel good” hormone oxytocin. When they’re at ONT, passengers and staff are welcome and encouraged to say hello and pet our squad to take advantage of these benefits!

A Growing Squad

The ONT Paw Squad is currently made up of 30 pups of a variety of breeds and sizes, according to Ritchie. There are poodles, doodles, spaniels, sheepdogs, yorkies and basset hounds, among many more! Their names range from sophisticated and proper, such as Winston and Oliver, to fun and goofy, such as Mocha and Waffle.

The squad continues to grow, and in June 2025, a new member of the crew made his first appearance at ONT. Jackson, a male Golden Retriever, visited Terminal 2 and was quite enthusiastic and inquisitive about his new surroundings.

“I fly frequently out of ONT,” said Jackson’s mom, Christian Prat. "When I saw the ONT Paw Squad the first time, I thought to myself, ‘I have a therapy dog, I should be a part of this!’ So I contacted Carolyn, and here I am six months later!” 

Collect Their Baseball Cards

Each dog on the squad has their own collectible “baseball” card, and when in the terminals, the owners happily give those out alongside other fun items like stickers and patches. Just like Pokémon, you gotta catch ‘em all! Each card has the squad member’s picture, a “bio” and some fun facts about the lovable pup.

You’ll have more opportunities than ever to collect more of those cards during your next visit to ONT.

“Our team of dogs just got recertified this spring, so you’ll be seeing us a lot more now!” Lynn Seehuus, loving mom of dog Violet Rose, said during a recent visit to the terminals.

Next time you’re here at ONT, keep your eyes open for some furry friends and when you see them, stop, say hello and give some scratches and belly rubs!

For more information on the ONT Paw Squad, including how to participate, email [email protected].

You can also watch for our squad to pop up on the @airporttherapydogs Instagram channel, which shares schedules of upcoming appearances by therapy dog crews at airports across the country! And of course, follow @flyONT on all social channels for more ONT Paw Squad updates.