The lovely lady you see in the above Instagram photo is LiLou, the newest member of the San Francisco International Airport’s Wag Brigade, a therapy animal program launched in December of 2013 that brings trained animals to the terminals to make travel less stressful and more enjoyable for passengers. LiLou’s addition to the brigade is especially notable in that she is the first ever pig to join this elite four-legged squad, which is made up of approximately 300 cats, dogs and rabbits. She’s also possibly the only airport therapy pig of her kind anywhere in the country:
“Since its launch in 2013, the SFO Wag Brigade has become a favorite amenity among travelers,” Christopher Birch, director of guest experience, said in a news release announcing LiLou’s admission to the team. “With the addition of LiLou, we can look forward to more moments of surprise and delight for guests at our airport.”
LiLou was chosen for her winning personality, and her overall cuteness, which is off the charts. She’ll be greeting travelers in a series of costumes and with perfectly manicured “nails.”
In addition to beauty, Lilou has also got brains. Her owner says that her duties will include performing tricks such as “greeting people with her snout or a wave, twirling and standing up on her back hooves, and playing a toy piano — with a proper, post-performance bow.” She bows and everything!
Here are some more snaps of LiLou from the SFO International Instagram account as well as her own personal account. You can see more photos of the Wag Brigade over on the SFO website.
(Via Mercury News, USA Today)
