Friday Funny: For Pets On The Go, A Place To Go

pets restroom
(Photo: Matthew McDermott/New York Post)

Restrooms are a frequent topic of discussion these days, but here’s a new twist on toilet facilities in the news. And it has nothing to do with who is wearing pants or a skirt. In fact, the guests these restrooms are designed for don’t have to wear clothes at all.

New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport has just added a special restroom specifically for traveling dogs and cats.

That’s right: JFK now has a place for pets on the go, to… go.

The 70-square-foot pet restroom is located inside JFK’s Terminal Four, between the men’s and ladies’ rooms, and is clearly marked with paw print signage. The toilet area is designed for use by both cats and dogs, and includes fake grass to make furry friends feel at home. There’s even a red fire hydrant for “inspiration.”

pets restroom
(AP Photo/William Mathis)

If anybody misses, the floors are waterproof. And after your doggy does his “duty,” the room can be hosed down and bags are provided for cleanup.

The pet restroom was designed by JFK International Air Terminal (JFKIAT), the operator of Terminal Four, with help from the U.S. Guide Dog Foundation.

“We recognize the growing presence of animals in our terminal, and the significant increase in passengers traveling with pets, and we wanted to provide owners with a convenient location to relieve their animals without having to exit the terminal,” Gert-Jan de Graaff, president and CEO of JFKIAT, told USA Today.

pets restroom
(Picture: Polaris/eyevine)

JFK isn’t the first airport in the U.S. to provide comfort facilities for dogs on the go: Washington D.C.’s Dulles International, Chicago’s O’Hare, and Seattle-Tacoma International have already created places for pets to poo. Thanks to new federal regulations, all airports that service more than 10,000 travelers per year will be required to install “pet relief areas” by August of this year.

Prior to the introduction of pet restrooms, traveling pets would have to do their business right on the terminal floor for their owners to clean up, or go outside and come back in after a second trip through security.

An up-to-date list of pet and animal relief areas at U.S. airports can be found here.