Airport service animal relief areas


We are going to be on a panel at an FAA conference next month. As part of that, I am consolidating my pictures of SARAs (service animal relief areas) at airports. Below are the pictures I have found from my collection of pictures. Thanks to Brad for helping make the captions so awesomely descriptive!

For reference, here’s a link to the 2017 FAA Advisory Circular for airports, with guidance on SARAs in the first appendix:

https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/150-5360-14A.pdf

Indoor pet relief area in San Diego, California.  A small room has a portion of the room with a short 6 inch wall separating the concrete floor from the fake grass.  There is a 4x8 ft or so fake grass area with a red plastic fire hydrant in the middle.  There is an 8-inch gray vinyl molding along the base of the wall, which might absorb pee smell over time and is definitely not high enough for high-urinators.  Poop bags are on the wall.
Indoor pet relief area in San Diego, California. A small room has a portion of the room with a short 6 inch wall separating the concrete floor from the fake grass. There is a 4×8 ft or so fake grass area with a red plastic fire hydrant in the middle. There is an 8-inch gray vinyl molding along the base of the wall, which might absorb pee smell over time and is definitely not high enough for high-urinators. Poop bags are on the wall.
A picture of the San Diego indoor SARA from farther away.  There is a sink in the room.  There is little room for much else. The room looks like it is about 8x10 ft with a space taken out by an inside corner.
A picture of the San Diego indoor SARA from farther away. There is a sink in the room. There is little room for much else. The room looks like it is about 10×10 ft with a space taken out by an inside corner.
The outdoor SARA in San Diego.  This picture shows Hestia outside of the SARA.  The area is surrounded by a low wall with a metal gate.  You can see the fake grass through the gate. Poop bags are posted outside.
The outdoor SARA in San Diego. This picture shows Hestia outside of the SARA. The area is surrounded by a low wall with a metal gate. You can see the fake grass through the gate. Poop bags are posted outside.
Inside the outdoor San Diego airport SARA.  It is a circular space of fake grass with a plastic fire hydrant. The area is enclosed with a waist-high beige wall made of either concrete or stucco.  Hestia sniffs the ground next to a large poop stain from a previous dog having had loose stools.
Inside the outdoor San Diego airport SARA. It is a circular space of fake grass with a plastic fire hydrant. The area is enclosed with a waist-high beige wall made of either concrete or stucco. Hestia sniffs the ground next to a large poop stain from a previous dog having had loose stools.
An outdoor SARA at the Sacramento, California airport.  There is a fenced area about the size of a small room with mulch, possibly with a small area of concrete sidewalk just inside the fence for wheelchair accessibility (it's hard to tell in this picture).  A 250 lb English Mastiff and his handler fit inside this pet relief area well.
An outdoor SARA at the Sacramento, California airport. There is a fenced area about the size of a small room with mulch, possibly with a small area of concrete sidewalk just inside the fence for wheelchair accessibility (it’s hard to tell in this picture). A 250 lb English Mastiff and his handler fit inside this pet relief area well.
Outdoor SARA at the Charlotte, NC airport, which is at the beginning of where cars drive in just before picking up people.  There is no fence, and this patch of dirt (with a little grass) is right next to a designated smoking area, so tended to be a lot of cigarette butts all over the ground.  There is a poop bag dispenser and trash can here, as well.  In this picture, Hestia and Gigi both sniff around on the ground.
Outdoor SARA at the Charlotte, NC airport, which is at the beginning of where cars drive in just before picking up people. There is no fence, and this patch of dirt (with a little grass) is right next to a designated smoking area, so tended to be a lot of cigarette butts all over the ground. There is a poop bag dispenser and trash can here, as well. In this picture, Hestia and Gigi both sniff around on the ground.
Veronica's favorite SARA in the Charlotte, NC airport.  It is out in the open air, and is a three sided stainless steel box with walls about 3.5 ft high.  It has fake grass and a fake fire hydrant.  Next to the box there are poop bags and a trash can, but it doesn't look like there's any hand sanitizer dispenser.  In this picture, Hestia observes from afar as someone else uses the SARA.
Veronica’s favorite SARA in the Charlotte, NC airport. It is out in the open air, and is a three sided stainless steel box with walls about 3.5 ft high. It has fake grass and a fake fire hydrant. Next to the box there are poop bags and a trash can, but it doesn’t look like there’s any hand sanitizer dispenser. In this picture, Hestia observes from afar as someone else uses the SARA.
A close up of the Charlotte, NC SARA, which has about an 8x8 ft footprint.  In this picture, Hestia sniffs near the fire hydrant.  Her friend Gigi (a small black mini poodle) sniffs the fake grass keeping her feet on the floor outside the SARA.
A close up of the Charlotte, NC SARA, which has about an 8×8 ft footprint. In this picture, Hestia sniffs near the fire hydrant. Her friend Gigi (a small black mini poodle) sniffs the fake grass keeping her feet on the floor outside the SARA.
This is Charlotte, NC's second indoor SARA.  It, too, is in an open space and has the same three sided metal box. It looks like it might be 10 feet wide by 6 feet deep.  In the picture, Hestia is peeing on the fake grass while Veronica smiles at the camera.
This is Charlotte, NC’s second indoor SARA. It, too, is in an open space and has the same three sided metal box. It looks like it might be 10 feet wide by 6 feet deep. In the picture, Hestia is peeing on the fake grass while Veronica smiles at the camera.
An outdoor SARA at an unnamed airport (it was a connection).  Its patchy mixture of grass and dirt is much the same as the outdoor Charlotte, NC SARA, but this one has hand sanitizer—or a dispenser, at least!
An outdoor SARA at an unnamed airport (it was a connection). Its patchy mixture of grass and dirt is much the same as the outdoor Charlotte, NC SARA, but this one has hand sanitizer—or a dispenser, at least!
The unnamed airport's signage to the outdoor SARA was great for sighted people.  Hestia sits next to a sign on the ground leading to the pet relief area with an arrow of which direction to go.
The unnamed airport’s signage to the outdoor SARA was great for sighted people. Hestia sits next to a sign on the ground leading to the pet relief area with an arrow of which direction to go.
An outdoor SARA at LAX.  A small area is wire-fenced, with fake grass and a bone shaped concrete pad—but that surface is well inside the fake grass, so it's not in a great location for wheelchair accessibility.  There is a poop bag dispenser and trash can inside the SARA.
An outdoor SARA at LAX. A small area is wire-fenced, with fake grass and a bone shaped concrete pad—but that surface is well inside the fake grass, so it’s not in a great location for wheelchair accessibility. There is a poop bag dispenser and trash can inside the SARA.
The inside of the LAX SARA.  Near the concrete pad there is a fire hydrant, and a bowl for water.  The water bowl has a faucet above it to refill with fresh water, and a grate below the bowl so water doesn't collect.  In this picture Hestia is sniffing in the corner.
The inside of the LAX SARA. Near the concrete pad there is a fire hydrant, and a bowl for water. The water bowl has a faucet above it to refill with fresh water, and a grate below the bowl so water doesn’t collect. In this picture Hestia is sniffing in the corner.

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