Cleared for Takeoff, Powered by Paws

Helping Service Dog Teams Fly with Confidence

“They don’t just train to fly, they train to help people move through the world with confidence.”

What does it take to turn a rescue dog into a confident airline traveler? Thanks to a unique new partnership between Joybound People & Pets, Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport, and Southwest Airlines, psychiatric service dogs are getting the chance to practice the real thing, before ever taking flight with the people who depend on them.

Recently, Joybound’s Shelter to Service program brought three psychiatric service dog teams to the airport for a hands-on mock travel experience designed to simulate the realities of air travel. The dogs practiced navigating TSA-style security checks, crowded terminals, long lines, unfamiliar sounds, and even boarding a real airplane alongside passengers.

The goal? Helping these future service dogs become calm, confident, and paw-fect passengers in high-stimulation environments.

Among the participants was Tony and his dog Jake. Tony, a retired Chief Warrant Officer with 20 years in the United States Coast Guard who later trained canine teams for TSA before graduating from Joybound’s Shelter to Service program with Jake by his side.

Together, the pair represent the power of partnership, second chances, and the life-changing bond between people and pets, both on the ground and far beyond it.

For many people living with disabilities, airports and air travel can be overwhelming. Psychiatric service dogs are specially trained to provide support through grounding behaviors, interruption tasks, emotional regulation, and other disability-related assistance. Preparing dogs to remain focused and composed in busy public environments is a critical part of their training and future success as working service animals.

Joybound’s Shelter to Service program transforms rescued animals into highly trained companions who enrich and support people every day. These highly trained dogs provide support, independence, and emotional stability while remaining safe, focused, and unobtrusive in public spaces like airports, restaurants, hospitals, and theaters.

While some dogs are trained for specialized roles like psychiatric service work, many more (along with cats) become emotional support and therapy animals, helping people build lasting bonds, confidence, and connection.

Visit joybound.org/S2S to learn more!

Note: This article was featured in Joybound’s Spring 2026 issue of Joy Magazine. With a gift of just $25 to Joybound, you can be added to our mailing list and receive Joy in your mailbox for one year!