Dane County Regional Airport Welcomes New K9 Unit and Celebrates Volunteer Pet Therapy Team
January 21, 2025
Michael Riechers, (608) 220-5454
Airport
Madison, WI – Dane County Regional Airport (DCRA) officially introduced its new Sheriff’s K9 team and celebrated its volunteer Pet Therapy Team during a press conference held at the airport as part of National Train Your Dog Month. Dogs play an important role at the airport, both with regard to security, as well as providing stress relief and comfort to travelers.
DCRA recently honored the airport K9 team of Deputy Kelly and K9 Lord, who retired from active service in 2024, with a special reception at the airport. The airport is now excited to welcome a new K9 team, Deputy Tsering from the Dane County Sheriff’s Office and K9 Dorjee. After more than a year of specialized training, K9 Dorjee, a two-year-old Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd mix, is certified in explosive odor detection and trained to locate firearms and empty shell casings. K9 Dorjee’s certifications include the North American Police Work Dog Association (NAPWDA) and National Odor Recognition Testing (NORT) through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
“DCRA has been so incredibly fortunate to partner with the Dane County Sheriff’s K9 Units to help provide this crucial security capability,” said Airport Director Kim Jones. “We were honored to have so many years of service with Deputy Kelly and K9 Lord, who were beloved by travelers and staff alike. We wish them well in their next adventure together, and look forward to working with Deputy Tsering and Dorjee,” Jones added.
The airport also celebrated its volunteer Pet Therapy Team, unveiling brand-new trading cards featuring each therapy dog. The cards highlight photos, fun facts, and unique details about the dogs’ breeds and personalities. While the program is all-volunteer, each dog must be a certified therapy animal, and handlers are required to complete the airport security badging process.
The Pet Therapy program is a cherished amenity at DCRA, designed to bring stress relief and joy to travelers. Volunteers coordinate their schedules to maximize visits during busy travel times. “We updated all of the Pet Therapy trading cards due to their immense popularity and are thrilled to welcome new dogs and handlers to the team,” Jones said. The program thrives thanks to the dedication of the volunteers, who distribute the trading cards to travelers during their visits. For more information about the program, visit the airport’s website at: https://www.msnairport.com/dining_shopping/services/Pet-Therapy.
The Dane County Regional Airport provides seamless, low-stress, and affordable options for both leisure and business travelers with daily arrivals and departures, non-stop and one-stop service that provides access to nearly every worldwide destination.
In addition, DCRA fully opened the expansion of its south terminal, with new and updated restrooms, a bar, shopping and amenities aimed at making travel easier and more convenient, such as a new Mother’s Lounge, Children’s Play Area, Meeting Rooms, free WiFi6, an indoor Pet Relief area and more. Visit msnairport.com for more information.
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