Traveling on an airplane can be a stressful experience for anyone, but it’s even more stressful for our pets who travel with us. Many airlines don’t allow most dogs to travel in the cabin, which means they have to take the ride in the baggage area.
But one baggage handler made sure that one little dog wouldn’t be scared on his trip — and after the heartwarming video went viral, he even got the attention of the CEO.
The video was captured by Seven News Melbourne presenter Jacqueline Felgate, who shared it to TikTok.
She saw the baggage handler, named Chad, comforting a small dog in a crate as he heads into the Virgin Australia flight “making sure this brave doggo is safely on the plane.”
@jacquifelgate @Virgin Australia 🇦🇺
Chad was later asked what he said to the dog, named Cooper, and the baggage handler confirmed he was trying to ease the dog’s nerves.
“I was just reassuring him and asking him if he was ready to board, just like the passengers get asked up at the gate,” Chad said.
“I said ‘Coopy mate, you’ll be fine, hope you have a safe flight, we’ll see you on the other side.’”
@jacquifelgate @virginaustralia
The TikTok was viewed over 3.3 million times on TikTok, and the heartwarming video moved many people online.
Many people also wanted to know more about this “dog whisperer,” and Jacqueline Felgate later tracked him down for an interview, which were posted on the Virgin Australia Instagram.
Chad, interviewed alongside his own dog, Murphy, was asked if he was single — apparently, a lot of women were asking this after seeing his way with dogs.
“Yes, I’m single,” he joked. “Girls are trouble.”
But it wasn’t just the ladies that were paying attention to this kindhearted man — he also got the attention of the Virgin Australia CEO, who surprised him with a gift.
He received a pair of Business Class tickets from CEO Jayne Hrdlicka, “to acknowledge his wonderful work.”
Thank you, Chad, for looking out for this nervous pup. We’re glad you got recognized for your kind act and hope you enjoy a nice trip yourself!
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