Travelers passing through Flynn Cruiseport Boston have a new reason to arrive early: four therapy dogs are now stationed at the terminal, ready to be petted, hugged and generally fussed over before anyone boards a ship. The new initiative, called Port Paws, puts Belle, Magnum, Campbell and Riley in front of passengers who might otherwise be white-knuckling their way through pre-cruise jitters.
Massport launched Port Paws at Flynn Cruiseport Boston, according to WBZ NewsRadio 1030, which reported that the terminal now has Belle, Magnum, Campbell and Riley available for travelers to meet. The four dogs are described as affectionate animals who love being petted, and the lineup includes plenty of variety: Campbell and Magnum are both Labrador retrievers, Belle is a Great Pyrenees, and Riley is an Australian shepherd mix.
Flynn Cruiseport Boston serves as the primary maritime terminal for cruise ships visiting or departing from the city, per the station's report, which means Port Paws could greet a steady stream of vacationers heading out to sea or returning home. Massport CEO Rich Davey said the authority was excited to welcome Port Paws to Flynn Cruiseport Boston and bring comfort and joy to passengers, the same report noted.
Part of a Bigger Massport Push
Port Paws did not appear in a vacuum. Massport partnered with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs to develop and grow its animal-therapy program, and the cruiseport initiative follows two earlier rollouts: BOS PAWS at Logan International Airport and Woo Paws at Worcester Regional Airport, according to the same account from WBZ NewsRadio 1030.
Logan's version of the program launched over the summer with its own trio of dogs. Per Adopt a Pet, BOS PAWS introduced Remington, a Giant Schnauzer, Buster, a West Highland Terrier, and Waffles, a French Bulldog, all described on the page as certified therapy dogs. Davey told the outlet that the program was intended to put smiles on the faces of travelers and provide comfort to those who may feel anxious or stressed during their journey. Adopt a Pet also described Logan as the first airport in Massachusetts to implement a therapy-dog program, though that claim comes from the single non-primary source.
Why Airports and Ports Keep Adding Dogs
Boston is joining a trend that has already spread widely across the country. As of September 2023, at least 76 U.S. airports had therapy-dog programs designed to provide comfort to passengers, according to Asheville Regional Airport. That airport's own Paws for Passengers program began in July 2017 with nine volunteers and has since grown to 28 teams, with dogs ranging in age from 2 to 14 years old.
Asheville distinguishes its therapy animals from service dogs with blue vests marked “Pet Me!,” signaling to passengers that interaction is welcome. Asheville Regional Airport also points to research suggesting therapy dogs can decrease stress and pain and elevate endorphins like oxytocin and dopamine, quoting that finding directly on its site.
The appeal isn't just anecdotal warm fuzzies, either. A review published on PubMed Central notes that, among adults, having a dog present during a socially stressful situation can attenuate cortisol compared with being alone, though that particular citation is drawn from a lower-confidence search snippet rather than a full study review.
Back at Flynn Cruiseport, WBZ NewsRadio 1030 reported that interacting with animals is associated with a range of feel-good effects: increased feelings of social support, a boosted mood, decreased cortisol levels, lower blood pressure and reduced loneliness. The station specifically noted that interacting with therapy dogs lowers traveler blood pressure and reduces traveler stress, the exact benefits Massport is banking on as Belle, Magnum, Campbell and Riley settle into their new post greeting Boston's cruise crowd.
