[il-talk] O'Hare Airport Opens Indoor Dog Relief Room

[Kelly Pierce]

Earlier this week Chicago joined an elite accessibility honor roll of
cities when it
 opened an indoor dog relief room inside the secured area of O’Hare
 Airport. The only other hub airports with dog relief areas inside the
 security perimeter are Washington Dulles, Dallas-Ft. Worth,
 Minneapolis, and Detroit.  For those unaware, people can travel
 between terminals inside the secured area at O’Hare without needing to
 receive additional security screening.  The news release from the city
 of Chicago is below.

Kelly



Indoor Service Animal/Pet Relief Room Opens at O'Hare International Airport
Date: Tuesday  October  20, 2015 | Source: Chicago Department of Aviation

CHICAGO, October 20, 2015 - The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA)
announces the opening of an indoor service animal/pet relief room at
O'Hare International Airport.



Located past security checkpoints in the Rotunda area of Terminal 3,
the room is specially designed to accommodate passengers traveling
with service animals or pets. It is particularly convenient for those
with layovers/connecting flights at O'Hare.  It will enhance the
traveling experience for individuals with disabilities because they no
longer need to pass back through security to relieve their service
animal.







The recently-opened indoor service animal/pet relief room at O'Hare is
located just north of the Rotunda in Terminal 3.


The room has two, 2-foot by 4-foot pet relief areas complete with
artificial grass covering, miniature fire hydrants and pop-up
sprinkler systems to wash away liquid waste into a drain. In addition,
a mounted hose bib and reel is available for manual spraying and
plastic bags are provided for clean-up. The room is enclosed, has a
door with a glass pane that opens and closes automatically, and is
designed for wheelchair access. The room also includes two sinks for
passenger use.



"We are pleased to offer this new amenity for passengers, especially
those who depend on the assistance of service animals when they travel
through our airport," said CDA Commissioner Ginger S. Evans. "This is
another way we are making O'Hare International Airport more accessible
to the traveling public and creating a more welcoming environment for
visitors to Chicago."





The room features two pet relief areas with hydrants, and plastic
bags, sinks and a hose for clean up.




The CDA coordinated with the Mayor's Office for People with
Disabilities (MOPD) to ensure the room is compliant with the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.



"The new indoor animal relief area located in the secured terminal of
O'Hare International Airport will enhance the traveling experience for
individuals with service animals, particularly those with connecting
flights," said MOPD Commissioner Karen Tamley. "This feature is
another step towards our goal of making Chicago a world class
accessible city for people with disabilities."



In addition to the new airside animal relief room, there are three
outdoor service animal/ pet relief areas located near the lower level
curb front of Terminals 1, 2 and 5. The Terminal 1 and 5 outdoor
locations were opened in 2009 and the Terminal 2 location was added in
2014. Midway International Airport also has an outdoor service animal
and pet relief area located near the lower level curb front at the
north end of the terminal that opened in 2009.


Real grass, gravel or wood chips are used inside the fenced-in areas
and plastic bags and garbage cans are provided. CDA and custodial
staff monitor the areas throughout the day to ensure cleanliness.