SOME SOLUTION.ON HAVING ONE OR TWO SHOULD BE IN SIDE THE AIRPORT NEXT TO THE RESTROOMS AS WE LEAVE OR UPON ARRIVAL,,

AN OVERHEAD ROOF ON THE OUTSIDE FOR SERVICE DOGS CAN STAY DRY WELL USING …

Service Animal Relief Areas

Service Animal Relief Areas are available at each passenger terminal. The McNamara Terminal location is outside the International Arrivals area (Lower Level), around the corner of the building at the south end of the curb front. At the North Terminal, there are Relief Areas at each end of the Departures Level curb (Upper Level). All locations provide plastic bags and a container for disposal of solid waste. Contact your airline to arrange for escort services, if required. .

HOW CAN I CHECK THIS OUT BEFORE WE FLY;. NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO FLY WITH JELLO…

The most important issue for assistance dog teams to comment on, in my opinion, is the location of Service Animal Relief Areas at airports. This is your opportunity to let the DOT and airport operators and the airlines know that our community cares about this issue!

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued new guidelines in May 2011 that clarify the TSA has no objection to airports installing a service animal relief area outdoors, in the sterile area, for the benefit of passengers with disabilities who travel with assistance dogs.

The “sterile area” is the official term for the secure zone between the TSA screening checkpoint and your gate area.

Please join IAADP in submitting a public comment urging the DOT to require airports to locate a minimum of one Service Animal Relief Area per terminal inside the “sterile area” between the TSA security checkpoint and the gate area.

The NPRM raises the DOT’s concern a number of disabled passengers could miss connecting flights due to the time and distance involved if a service animal relief area is located outside the sterile area of the terminal. After a long trip to a relief area, the disabled passenger would have to go through a screening at the TSA security checkpoint before he or she is allowed to return to the gate area with a guide, hearing or service dog.

The DOT specifically seeks comments on whether the service animal relief area should be located inside the sterile area or outside the sterile area, to ensure time and distance are not barriers for disabled passengers?

IAADP shares the concern that time and distance to a relief area located outside the sterile area could result in assistance dog teams missing their flight. Any of us could experience this problem, as any assistance dog can suddenly have a digestive upset. Many like my own service dog may become stressed by severe air turbulence or a thunderstorm during the flight and upon landing, urgently need a trip to a relief area so as to prevent “an accident” and to alleviate cramps. We also noted in our public comment that young dogs, elderly assistance dogs and those on their first flight will need to eliminate more often than assistance dogs in their prime who are seasoned travelers.

IAADP’s position is the vast majority of assistance dog teams who are on the way to the gate or connecting with another plane or after landing at their destination before they get their luggage would be best served by a service animal relief area that can be accessed from inside the sterile area of each terminal.

We ask airports that only have one service animal relief area for two or more terminals, believing there is no need for more since that one is rarely used, to take a second look at this problematic situation for disabled passengers.

For IAADP’s comments on several other related issues raised in the NPRM, with photos of a deplorable service animal relief area and two well designed relief areas sent to us by IAADP members, here is a link to IAADP’s public comment. http://iaadp.org/comments.html

For additional information and other subjects to comment on, you can also read the “Excerpts from the NPRM on Service Animal Relief Areas and the DOT’s comment requests” that follow this letter.

You can make a short comment online by going to the DOT’s Comment Site right now, using the direct link we provide here. It is easy!

http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=DOT-OST-2011-0182-0001

You can also use this link to upload a longer comment you save as a Word.doc or PDF file on your computer. The uploaded comment must have the Docket Number of this NPRM at the top, which is: DOT OST 2011 0182.

For instructions on how to mail or fax a comment, see the information at the end of this email.

Please submit a public comment before the Nov. 28, 2011 deadline. If you can get a friend or family member to submit one too, on whether the DOT should require airports to install a minimum of one service animal relief area per terminal and where it should be located, inside or outside the sterile area, that would be awesome. The more comments, the better, to send a message to airport operators, the airlines and the DOT that disabled passengers and other members of the public consider this to be an important matter, worth their time and trouble.

appreciatively,

Joan Froling

IAADP Chairperson

*** Excerpts from the NPRM on Service Animal Relief Areas at Airports and

DOT Comment requests.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

49 CFR Part 27

RIN 2105-AD91

[Docket No. DOT-OST-2011-0182]

Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Programs or

Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance (U.S. Airports)

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM).

———————————————————————–

SUMMARY: The Department is proposing to amend its rules implementing

section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which requires

accessibility in airport terminal facilities that receive Federal

financial assistance. The proposed rule includes new provisions related

to service animal relief areas and captioning of televisions and audio-

visual displays that are similar to new requirements applicable to U.S.

and foreign air carriers under the Department’s Air Carrier Access

(ACAA) regulations, 14 CFR part 382. The NPRM also proposes to

reorganize the provision in 49

“If you need to leave the secure boarding area to relieve your animal, you must undergo the full screening process again. Inform the Security Officer upon your return to the security checkpoint and she/him will move you to the front of the screening line to expedite the screening process.”
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/editorial_1056.shtm

Carry a copy of this webpage with you. Security officials will sometimes argue about the policy so you’ll want to be able to show it to them in writing. Print the actual webpage so they can see it’s from their own site. Also make sure you have this phone number for TSA if you have any other problems related to your disability or service animal at security checkpoints: 1-877-336-4872
“§382.51(5) In cooperation with the airport operator and in consultation with local service animal training organization(s), you must provide animal relief areas for service animals that accompany passengers departing, connecting, or arriving at an airport on your flights.” page 142

“§382.91(c) As a carrier at a U.S. airport, you must, on request, in cooperation with the airport operator, provide for escorting a passenger with a service animal to an animal relief area provided under §382.51(a)(5) of this Part.” page 153

I wouldn’t even know how to handle this if I were to also become ill while at the airport, and then have to manage to get out to the relief area and then stand in line again to get back through.. some of us only have so many “spoons” a day.

Thanks for sharing!

Just my two cents.
Tonja