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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| Pet bathrooms open at D.C. area airports |
| 2010-07-10 |
| They can share the footwash area. Now your pet can make a pit stop too before getting on the plane with you at two D.C. area airports. Dulles and Reagan National Airports have opened "pet relief areas" to give dogs a place to go to the bathroom at the airport. The pet areas were created because of federal rules requiring "service animal relief areas" for service animals that accompany passengers on trips, but the areas are also open for families traveling with pets. Each fenced-in dog bathroom at Dulles has a fake fire hydrant, artificial grass, and bags so the owners can clean up after their pups. There are three pet areas outside the main terminal and two inside the concourses. The indoor locations have ventilation and flushing systems to keep everything clean. Reagan National has all four of its pets areas outside on natural grass before you get through security. |
| Posted by:gorb |
| #3 This doesn't bother me. As a very occasional breeder of dogs who live in loving homes and are often show champions, I've shipped dogs in crates as cargo a number of times and also twice taken a puppy on board with me in a soft carrier that fit under the seat in front of me. Each time I paid a fee for the privilege. The fees have increased substantially over the last few years. So to a fair degree it is the pet owners who pay this cost, Besoeker. When arriving at the airport I look for a patch of grass near the parking garage to allow the dog to relieve itself before the long time it will spend in the crate. (Post 9/11 dogs must be checked in 2 hours before the flight.) However, that's not an easy option for people who need service dogs and it's a particular problem with connecting flights. There are far too many people in our society who have never lived in close proximity to animals or learned the lessons that come from taking responsibility for them. Many of those people are among the loudest advocates of crippling regulations that impact farmers and hunters as well as pet owners. Creating service dog relief areas at airports, and opening them to family pets during travel, is a small price to pay for encouraging responsible pet ownership IMO. |
| Posted by: lotp 2010-07-10 10:48 |
| #2 This is bizarre an animal rest area? How very strange, it is see seemingly like a tiny plot of green (artificial?) space, where pet owners are encouraged to allow their pets to rest on the lounge at the expense of poor pet less creatures. This is a problem of class. Petless passengers should also be allowed entry into this precious green area at no additional expense to them, otherwise an outrage is occurring. |
| Posted by: Black Bart Shick7973 2010-07-10 07:16 |
| #1 And the cost? Who suffers the COST? I thought so, we all do. (American tourists in Hawaiian shirts hold pets photo please) |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-07-10 06:58 |