A new federal rule, as of last Thursday, requires U.S. airports receiving federal financial aid to provide pet potties inside airport terminals, in areas past security.
The law, titled Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Air Travel, mandates that airports with 10,000 or more annual passengers provide indoor wheelchair-accessible pet-relief areas convenient to airline gates for service animals that accompany passengers departing, connecting, or arriving on flights.
Philadelphia International, which serves 86,000 passengers a day, has installed seven pet-relief areas in Terminals A-East and A-West, B, C, D, E, and F.
The 7-foot by 8-foot spaces feature decorative dog decals, a faux fire hydrant, artificial grass, and waste bags for cleanup. Travelers can soon learn the locations on the airport website phl.org and at customer information counters.
"It's really great," said Jessica Spencer, a trainer for Canine Partners for Life in Cochranville, showing Gwen, a black Labrador retriever service dog, the relief area in Terminal E.
"A lot of our clients have fatigue issues, pain issues, so on a layover to have to go outside, find an area, then get back through security to their gate, it's inconvenient and stressful."