It was 11am on a Wednesday when Alex the Nice—a Flemish Big—most just lately rolled into SFO’s worldwide terminal. He arrived in his stroller, pushed by Josh Row, Alex’s human roommate since Dec. 2020 and the person who brings Alex to all of his engagements. Alex remained effortlessly cool regardless of the fast crowd that gathered round him to take turns petting him and posing for selfies. He took the time to greet every of them in flip. “I would not be right here with out my followers,” he advised one (in my head). “The followers are what makes all of it worthwhile.”
People at SFO (fairly rightly) dropping their rattling minds over Alex the Nice. (Rae Alexandra)
“That is my first time assembly Alex,” Sheryl Nashir, SFO’s Director of Income and Improvement advised me. “I really feel instantly happier, and calmer, and delighted. His neck is sort of a built-in pillow.”
Then it was my flip. Alex let me pet him for a number of minutes earlier than half-hopping onto my lap and grinding his tooth collectively, which Row advised me he does when he’s completely satisfied. A wave of calm washed over me. After which it occurred—Alex the Nice started enthusiastically licking my wrist. Candy validation!
The creator with Alex the Nice, casually hanging out on the ground of SFO. (Rae Alexandra)
I wasn’t the one particular person whose day obtained higher due to Alex the Nice. Taliaferro Jones was touring to Toronto along with her two daughters that day. The trio had come to be with household in San Francisco on the very begin of the pandemic, they usually have not been in a position to return house to Canada ever since.
“In the present day goes to be a annoying one. They have not seen house in two years,” Jones stated about her ladies, 12-year-old Mirabel and 8-year-old Mya. Seeing Mirabel’s fast rapport with Alex, Jones breathed a literal sigh of aid. “It is a nice diversion,” she stated. “It is sort of a present. Mirabel loves animals. I really feel like possibly [Alex] is sweet luck for us.”
Mirabel, a younger Canadian woman who’s been caught in California since COVID hit, will get a cuddle from Alex earlier than lastly heading again house. (Rae Alexandra)