Travelers flying out of Denver find themselves floating on Cloud Nine even before they board their flights, all thanks to a charming 12-pound tabby who helps to upgrade passengers’ airport experience: Xeli the therapy cat at Denver International Airport.
Turning travelers’ tension into tranquility as a Pet Partners-certified therapy cat, Xeli is the Denver airport’s first feline member of CATS (the Canine Airport Therapy Squad.)
A “top cat” among a a pack of more than 100 therapy dogs who bring inner peace to passengers, the serene six-year-old tabby slips on a plaid Pet Me vest and–alongside a human companion–happily poses for selfies and get cuddles from commuters during two-hour shifts.
Xeli the Therapy Cat
For using her calming capabilities to help harried travelers, Xeli is among the animals honored as “Helping Heroes.”
For a month, the Petco Foundation and Merrick Pet Care highlighted organizations that train companion animals for vital work, as well as cats and canines who use their gifts for the greater good as therapy, service and working animals.
In recognition of companion animals who lend a helping paw, Merrick Pet Care pledged $75,000 to the Helping Heroes campaign. You can show your appreciation for the work of therapy and service animals, and help The Petco Foundation’s goal of raising more than $2.3 million for the Helping Heroes campaign at Petco locations.
Merrick Pet Care and The Petco Foundation’s Past Support of Paws Causes
Showing support for therapy dogs and cats who provide care in times of crisis, to date the Petco Foundation has invested over $12 million to various organizations (the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, Service Dogs Inc and K9s for Warriors among them) to support animals who work in the military, provide a sense of independence to people challenged with disabilities, rescue people inuring disasters and offer a nonjudgmental ear for children learning to read.
Since 2015 Merrick Pet Care has been the exclusive feeding partner for K9s for Warriors, which pairs veterans dealing with Post-traumatic Stress Disability with trained shelter dogs who have received a new lease on life thanks to the organization.
Photos courtesy The Petco Foundation
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