COLONIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Travelers at the Albany International Airport are going hog-wild over the newest member of the airport team, and not just because he has his own Facebook page.
Wednesday morning, travelers at the Albany International Airport were greeted by a celebrity and though he has a big snout, he wasn’t snooty at all.
Meet Bacon Bits, the therapy pig.
“The purpose is to relax people and calm them, de-stress them,” said Director of Albany International Airport’s Canine Ambassador Program Helen Chadderdon. “It breaks their train of thought when they’re trying to get through the check point or once they get through.”
She is referring to the canine ambassadors program at the Albany International Airport but on Wednesday, Bacon Bits became the first porcine to join the program.
“Bacon Bits is a perfect match for the public, he loves people, he wags his tail, he’s friendly,” Chadderdon said.
Bacon Bits was gifted to Terry Hutchinson when she was recovering from being ill. She likes to say they obviously ran out of flowers, cards, and boxes of candy, but her recovery gift has become a gift for others. Together the two visit 65 different facilities and nursing homes each year delivering smiles.
When Hutchinson met one of the canine ambassadors at a Halloween parade, she reached out to the airport right away.
“I thought it was a little, you know, I was like, ‘Oh, okay,’ you know, ‘but let’s look at it,’” Chadderdon said.
It only took one interview with the 101-pound charmer and he was in.
“I couldn’t believe how lovable and friendly he was,” Chadderdon said. “He was in my office and wagging his tail and I thought, ‘Oh my god, this is great.’ Terry was wonderful; Bacon Bits was wonderful, so here we are today.”
At just 20-months-old, the little guy has years to continue to wag that tail, spread that love and prove once and for all that everything is better with bacon.
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