Philadelphia airport caters to pets with 'relief areas'

At Philadelphia International Airport, the phrase "dog days of summer" has new meaning.

In the bustle of planes to catch, pooches now have their spot in the sun, and shade, within walking distance of the terminals at seven outside "pet ports," where before, between, or after flights they can go to the bathroom.

"It's a great idea!" said Lourdes Velasquez, walking her shih tzu, Mushy, between flights from Puerto Rico home to Chicago. "The lady inside asked me if I wanted to walk my dog. She said, 'We have a pet ground.' I was, 'Wow!' It's the first time I've seen this."

Britt, a German shepherd explosive-detection dog, also took a break, accompanied by Philadelphia Police Officer Jim Cassidy, strolling a pet area outside Terminal E passenger ticketing.

The 250- to 600-square-foot "pet relief areas" - four alongside the departures road and three on the arrivals side near the baggage claims - have a 4-inch mulch surface, a bench, a faux fire hydrant, biodegradable waste bags, and a concrete dog paw print. Each spot is enclosed by a 4-foot-high fence with a latching gate.

"The feedback we've gotten so far is complimentary on the number, distribution, and locations of these pet ports," said airport spokeswoman Victoria Lupica. "Our customers, whether they have service animals, pets, or are part of our security canine unit, are happy they are here."

In 2008, an Americans With Disabilities Act advisory committee to the airport suggested ideas for the design, accessibility, and locations of outdoor facilities for travelers with service dogs. "It turned into a universal application for all pets and airport-security canines," Lupica said.

"Our attitude was utilitarian - let's just make them usable," said James Antonacci, state president of the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania.

"We pointed out some of the things they needed, and they implemented that. It's been a great help to the travelers at the airport ever since," Antonacci said.

The cost - $35,000 for the design, and $166,000 for construction - was covered by Philadelphia airport general funds, and not tax dollars, Lupica said.

The Air Carrier Access Act prohibits discrimination in air transportation against individuals with physical or mental impairments.

A federal rule took effect in May 2009, requiring airlines to provide animal-relief areas for service animals at airports.

Philadelphia International got doggy bathrooms in June 2008, before they were required.

"It's the kind of forward thinking we like to see," Antonacci said. "We're very happy that the airport staff said, 'That's a good idea. Let's go with it.' "

More than two million pets and other animals fly each year in the United States, according to the Department of Transportation.

Under an agreement between the airport and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), passengers who need to relieve their service animals between connecting flights will be expedited back through security.

After alerting security, they take their animal outside, Lupica said.

"Then they are taken right back through the line. They don't have to worry about getting back in a long security line to reenter the terminal."