Something caught my eye as Don and I were walking through Washington Dulles International Airport the other day.
A very interesting sign.
The sign marked the location of one of the airport’s service animal relief areas. While most of the Dulles locations are outside the Main Terminal, two are inside the midfield concourses for the convenience of ticketed connecting passengers.
The typical layout of each pet relief area at Dulles includes a mockup of a fire hydrant placed on artificial “K-9 grass” in a fenced-in area. The grass was developed to be paw-friendly and easy to maintain.
The indoor locations have unique ventilation and flushing/drainage systems. The areas also include supplies for disposal of pet waste.
What a wonderful thing.
Morning Bray Farm 
April 24, 2011 at 4:20 am
This is brilliant! Thanks for sharing.
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April 24, 2011 at 4:50 am
Wow! I am amazed at the consideration that must have been behind this. (Of course, it might have been pressure from some union, too…) But I think it’s just the kindest idea! What did service dogs do before this?
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April 24, 2011 at 4:53 am
June,
In doing my research last night, it looks like there are now federal regulations requiring that airports provide this type of facility for service dogs… whether they’re indoors or out.
But you’re right… what in the world did the service dogs do before there were places like this… especially when on long flights with connections?
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April 24, 2011 at 5:56 am
Hmmm. Don’t let my dogs see this, they will want to upgrade to first class!
So I wonder if it’s a requirement of all airports or only those without access to a reasonable puppy potty area outside?
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April 24, 2011 at 7:10 am
What a good idea! This service shows that the dogs deserve consideration.
Congratulations to Washington Dulles International Airport.
Happy Easter!
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April 24, 2011 at 7:26 am
Too stinkin’ cool. Hope you’re having a wonderful vacation.
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April 24, 2011 at 7:42 am
How excellent! I’ve never seen that. Hope it’s coming soon, to airports (and other places!) everywhere!
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April 24, 2011 at 7:50 am
That is so cool!
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April 24, 2011 at 9:00 am
How impressive! My dog wouldn’t know what to do!
My parents lived on a boat for a while. They tried to teach their Golden Retriever to at least pee on some fake grass – he never cared to do so. My dad rowed him ashore morning and night – he must have had one great bladder!
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April 24, 2011 at 12:39 pm
Well now I’ve seen everything *blink*
It’s not something I’ve ever thought about – but I’m sure glad somebody did!!
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April 24, 2011 at 4:42 pm
I would like to congratulate the person who came up with that idea, and the ones who approved it!
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April 24, 2011 at 7:55 pm
This is an awesome and, in my opinion, very civilized idea. Every public venue should have one. *smile*
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April 24, 2011 at 8:00 pm
What a fantastic idea! It’s appalling how much of the public still doesn’t know that service dogs are allowed in restaurants, etc. by law. I used to volunteer with a group of blind friends, but was never in an airport with them. We did have to speak up for the dogs in a couple of public places, though. This is a wonderful step forward.
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April 24, 2011 at 9:04 pm
way cool! and not only did they make an accessible place but they made sure it stayed sanitary. Looks a lot cleaner than some of the places I’ve had to relieve myself while travelling 🙂
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April 24, 2011 at 11:35 pm
Amazing! I never thought about how service dogs relieved themselves, but talk about the star treatment. Always learning something knew at MB. 🙂 Safe travels.
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April 25, 2011 at 12:38 am
What does dogs think of it? Aren´t they confused?
It´s a good idea not only for airports, if they accept this solution.
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April 25, 2011 at 7:51 am
I think that there must be a recent law requiring such areas. They just added some on campus. However, ours aren’t indoor and don’t have a flushing system. Guess Colorado dogs just need to “tough it out” in the winter.
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April 25, 2011 at 1:58 pm
i’m glad to see that the service dogs now have their own rest area. I wonder if people traveling with ‘regular’ dogs are allowed to use it?
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April 25, 2011 at 2:48 pm
My word, never seen anything like that.
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April 25, 2011 at 4:25 pm
Cool! I have never seen anything like this before! While I never intend to fly with my stink dogs, it’s still nice to see that people have options like this! Go Dulles!
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April 25, 2011 at 4:56 pm
Very cool!!
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April 26, 2011 at 6:51 am
?! I keep losing comments on different blogs. Hmm.
Anyway, what a cool idea!! Although I wonder how sanitary it is….How on earth do you clean artificial grass? I love it though!
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April 26, 2011 at 1:55 pm
That is a wonderful service-what a great law!
But I must ask…if you are in Dulles who is taking care of the donkeys and puppies and sheepies and goats and chickens and who have I left out??? 🙂
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