Pets at the airport: Where to go when a dog has to ‘go’
Whether you’re the homeowner who is fed up with dogs urinating or defecating on your lawn or you’re the dog walker to blame, pets peeing and pooping are always up for discussion. As with humans, any living being has to relieve him or herself at some point and time. It’s how the body works. Considerate dog owners will keep pooper scoopers and plastic bags on-hand to avoid ruining a distracted pedestrian’s shoes or someone’s manicured lawn. But what happens when pet owners travel? Whereruining a distracted pedestrian’s shoes or someone’s manicured lawn. But what happens when pet owners travel? Where do their dogs relieve themselves then?
Most of us have taken the time and done the work to housebreak our dogs. Whether we’ve done so by paper/puppy pad training or crate training, neither method forces a dog to be locked up for hours on end. No matter how housebroken a dog may be, however, dogs, like humans, can only "hold it" for so long. Although dogs instinctively will not soil their crates (nor we, our clothing), there’s not a whole lot that can be done if a dog is crated on a 22-hour flight. Either the dog is going to hold him or herself until the trip is over, or let loose. We’d probably do the same.
Some airports, such as John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, are making the commute much easier for dogs that aren’t service animals. (Note: Service animals have had “pet relief facilities” outside of some airports since 2009.) According to Mercury News, major air hubs are building pet relief facilities inside of the airports where dogs can physically use an actual bathroom. The paw-print marked door even has a fire hydrant behind it. A doggie bag dispenser and a hose are also available for travelers to use in the 70-foot-square room.
These types of pet relief facilities have gained popularity in Chicago’s O’hare Airport, Washington DC’s Dulles International and Seattle’s Sea-Tac Airport. There are plenty around California, too, including John Wayne Airport, Burbank Bob Hope Airport, Long Beach Airport, Oakland Airport, Sacramento International Airport and Los Angeles/Ontario International Airport. Click here for more dog-friendly locations.
This is a welcome relief for traveling pet owners who can’t simply step outside anytime their dogs have to relieve themselves. Who wants to leave the terminal to take their dog outside, only to have to go through the agonizing wait time in the security checkpoints all over again? Without grass, trees or anything remotely like the outside world for a dog to do its business, pet owners are typically left to find a private corner and then scoop up after their dog while other travelers scurry by. Having pet-relief facilities inside of the airports will be a huge help. As of August 2016, a federal regulation will require that all airports that service over 10,000 passengers annually must install a pet relief area in every terminal.
TSA has a few useful pet travel tips and information on what pet owners can expect when making their way through security, such as getting the explosive trace detection swab from the TSA officer, getting pets acclimated to hand-held travel carriers and how to handle checkpoints with working K-9s. Visit here for more pet safety tips while flying. Safe travels!
Hi Debbie.
I wanted to thank you again for recommending your Flax Fur as a solution to help my Puggle Madi's skin condition. Early last year she had contracted what we...
