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Words of Advice from an ‘09 Petwe move on. First thing, they want to pet the dog. And my first question to them is: 'Do you have a pet?' and they'll bring out their phone. We just have a conversation!” Bella and Bonnie are a volunteer team with Pups n' Planes, where “comfort” dogs and their owners offer distressed travelers a little sugar. “People are waiting, their flight has been canceled, or they may have a four-hour wait, and they are upset.” “One time, two little girls stopped to pet the dog, and I looked up, and the mother was crying. Her husband was being deployed. I spent probably a half-hour with them, and the dad thanked me so many times because it got them thinking about other things,” Bonnie says. Airport staffers implemented the idea after learning how well it worked at the Los Angeles International Airport. Pups n' Planes has been reducing blood pressure and turning frowns upside down for six years. “In the car, she knows that we are almost at the airport. She gets so excited! Her job is to make people smile. She does that job.” And if you saw Bella, you would smile, too. The girl team also spends time at the airport USO, softening the loneliness and longing of our troops, so familiar to military life. While Bella offers kisses, Canine Explosive Detection Supervisor Sgt. Andres Lopez, and his police dog Keyno, provide safety and security. “We are there to make sure that the traveling public is safe, the dog makes that any threats associated with aviation there aren’t real threats,” says the airport K9 police officer. Lopez and Keyno “nose around," sniffing out threats that could come from a parked car, a suitcase, or a person. “Dogs are about as mobile as you can get,” says Lopez. He means the nose is mobile.

SNIPSA, INC.

Low-cost spay and neuter, right around the corner Bella is a volunteer with Pups n' Planes, the airport greeting committee. She wears her little pink coat, cheering up tired travelers at the San Antonio International Airport.

BY BERIT MASON Workin' for a Living! The only thing I want to hear being snipped is a yard of fab-ric! But another snip is “SNIPSA,” a fifteen-year-old pet rescue group founded by a veterinarian couple, the Espys, who wantof this tidy place that provides vaccinations and I.D. chips, along with pet merchandise. And seeing how clean and sterile looking it is, it’s no Dogs with Jobs ed to offer the community low-cost spay and neuter. surprise that in the back is a small surgery station, where they

“We offer discounted spay and neuter services weekly at do the “snipping.” BY BERIT MASON our office,” says Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator Lexi Blaik. About thrice yearly, they hold “The Big Fix,” a M*A*S*H

Aside from the funny name, which means Spay-Neuter- style operation, “…where we set up in a church or a gymnasiInject-Protect San Antonio, the other interesting thing is their um or a college, and we take it over. We set up a bunch of The San Antonio International Airport is HUGE! location: a pet rescue right in the middle of Olmos Park. surgery stations and recovery areas.” Volunteers, vet techs,

It recently broke a record, flying some 15,000 people A DAY, But you’d never know it! and veterinarians perform the procedures that prevent more for a total of 10.36 million passengers in 2019. I’ve passed by 100 times and didn’t notice that it was there. unwanted animals.

Passengers most certainly frequent the airport, but pups do too. “So, there is a reason why our name isn’t blatantly on the The last Big Fix fixed some 450 cats and dogs! In 2020, Meet Bella. front of the building. We want to be known in the community, they sterilized 2,055 animals. Bella is a petite dog with light, wavy hair, offering everyone but there have been precautions made so that we don’t get a “If we are not fixing these animals, even if we can rehome she meets the sweetest smile. Several hours a week, Bella and owner Bonnie Gioiello roam the airport, searching out the tired, the weary, and the bored. “If they look up and smile, they are a dog lover. If they don't, lot of people dropping off animals at our doorstep,” says Blaik. Arriving to work some mornings, staff have been welcomed by a forlorn pup or cat sitting by the door, some bad pet parent having dumped it. them, we are still going to have that revolving door of animals coming in and out,” says Blaik. Surgery, shots, and microchipping are free for qualifying zip codes. Those zip codes are determined by how many

“We are a small mom-and-pop boutique rescue,” says Blaik police calls come in for strays. Any neighborhood with lots

Airport therapy dogs help soothe people who may be upset because of a long wait, delayed or cancelled flight.

the community was looking for a dog, Doc was introduced at Franklin Park as a possible addition. And after meeting the large, friendly animal, as David remembers, “Everyone was struck by his gentleness, beauty and overall calm.” After a short trial period, Doc formally (and eagerly) was accepted by staff and residents for duty. And he and his new pals have been lapping it up ever since.

To see Doc with the residents, especially those impaired with memory issues, is, as David admits, “incredible.” He explains, “People who are usually nonresponsive due to their conditions become more alert and animated in Doc’s presence. Some who seldom ever say anything will speak to him, offer affectionate pats while seemingly remembering their former dogs. It’s quite moving.” Whoever Doc encounters, whether hale or impaired, the reactions all seem to be positive. People just like pets, and when this four-footed staffer makes an appearance in any part of the community, moods lighten and smiles appear.

So with Doc given free roaming privileges at Franklin Park and the residents, quite frankly, all a little ga-ga over of strays and neglected animals obviously needs help, him, life is good – for Doc and his many new friends. The reducing those numbers. program has been so successful that Franklin Park will be inSNIPSA enjoys the support of some 200 volunteers and troducing dogs to its other properties in the coming months. vets who work for almost nothing. It really has been—and continues to be — a win-win situa“By providing rescue, adoption, and offering low-cost spay tion, thanks to this very pet-able practitioner. “Please scratch and neuter options, we can connect with our community behind my ears!” and enrich the lives of our pet population,” says the mission statement.

“The great thing about the city shelter, Animal Care Services (ACS),” says Blaik, “is that they work with all of the other rescues in San Antonio to get as many dogs and cats out of their shelter and into homes. They’ve reduced their euthanasia rate over the years, and ACS is where we pull most of our animals.”

Surgery day is Wednesday and is open to the public.

How much you’ll pay depends on where you live.

SNIPSA needs fosters! Do you have time to help a puppy? Please call them.

You can also help by donating bleach, paper towels, laundry soap, and puppy pads. You can message them on Facebook.

Until next month!

Woof, woof,

Roxie Our excellent staff brings fun, creative, and challenging activities into each classroom. As a Christian based school, we strive to give your child exceptional care, and an excellent education, with a Christian foundation.

(210) 822-3213 www.ahpcds.com

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