Pet Relief Areas: Airports Offering Outdoor Spaces For Pets

Airports can be stressful places for animals, but fortunately, many airports are now equipped with pet relief stations. Since 2009, US airports have been required by law to provide relief areas for service animals, and these are also available for other pets. Airports in other countries, such as India, Ireland, Japan, and Turkey, also have pet relief areas. These areas typically include patches of real or fake grass, space to move around, and waste bags. Some airports, such as Los Angeles International Airport, even have indoor relief areas with artificial grass, a fake fire hydrant, fresh water, and waste disposal facilities.

US airports with pet relief areas

Since May 2009, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) has required all airlines to provide service animal relief areas (SARAs) at airports. As a result, airports have created and expanded animal relief areas that are open to all pets as well as service animals. Airports that service more than 10,000 passengers a year must have at least one service animal relief area (SARA) inside each terminal.

Some airports have multiple pet relief areas, with one per terminal. Most airports will inform travellers of the location of their pet relief areas on their websites. These areas can range from basic grassy areas to fully equipped "pet parks".

• Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, Greenville, NC (GSP)
• Bradley International Airport, Hartford (BDL)
• Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport — pet relief areas in Terminals 1 and 2, including an indoor post-security area with fake grass and a sink
• Denver International Airport — a private restroom for pets in each concourse, as well as in the Jeppesen Terminal
• Los Angeles International Airport — 11 pet relief areas, three of which are located before security checkpoints and eight in post-security locations
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport — several pet relief areas, including a 1,000-square-foot dog park
• Washington Dulles International Airport — five designated service animal or pet relief areas, two of which are located post-security
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport — nine relief areas, three of which are post-security
• Nashville International Airport (BNA) — a curbside pet relief area with free waste bags

International airports with pet relief areas

When travelling with pets, it is important to know which airports have pet relief areas. Here is a list of international airports with pet relief areas:

Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi (DEL), India

This airport has pet relief areas with all the necessary amenities, such as waste bags, disposal bins, and cleaning supplies, to ensure they remain clean and hygienic for all pets.

Dublin Airport (DUB), Ireland

An assistance dog relief room is located in Terminal 2. As of 30 January 2024, Dublin Airport reintroduced its live animal screening facility for departing passengers.

Osaka International Airport (ITAMI), Japan

The dog-specific relief area is located in the pick-up and drop-off area of the airport.

Istanbul Airport, Turkey

The pet relief rooms are located in the Departures area after security, upstairs near the IGA Lounge, or you can follow the dog signs.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, USA

This airport has a "dog walk" with lighting and landscaping. The relief area is located outside in a pre-security area near the parking garage. It includes a drinking fountain, bags, and receptacles for waste disposal.

Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP), Greenville, NC, USA

This airport has a small enclosure surrounded by a chain-link fence at the side of the parking garage. There are poop bags and a trash can.

Bradley International Airport (BDL), Hartford, USA

This airport has a pet relief area, although details are scarce.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), USA

This airport has outdoor pet relief areas at the north and south ends of baggage claim, as well as inside the terminal.

Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, USA

This airport has several pet relief areas, including an indoor post-security area with fake grass and a sink for easy cleanup. Terminal 1 has a dedicated space for pets near the baggage claim, and Terminal 2 has a grassy area near baggage claim and Gate H11.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, USA

This airport offers several pet relief areas, including one on the arrivals level of the International Terminal and a 1,000-square-foot dog park. The outdoor dog park is located pre-security in the Ground Transportation area at Domestic Terminal South and has benches and biodegradable waste bags.

Denver International Airport, USA

This airport has private restrooms for pets in each of its concourses, as well as in the Jeppesen Terminal. The indoor pet relief rooms are located post-security in the centre cores of A, B and C Gates. There is also a pre-security outdoor pet relief area located outside Door 200 on the west side of the Jeppesen Terminal.

Pet relief area recommendations

When travelling with pets, it is important to know where you can take them to relieve themselves and stretch their legs. Airports are now required by law to provide pet relief areas, but the quality of these facilities can vary. Here are some recommendations for airports with good pet relief areas:

Los Angeles International Airport

This airport has 11 pet relief areas, more than most airports in the US. Three relief areas are located before security checkpoints, and the other eight are in post-security locations, meaning you don't have to leave the secure area to tend to your dog. The indoor relief areas include artificial grass, a fake fire hydrant, fresh water, and waste disposal facilities. The outdoor atrium offers additional space to walk around and stretch your legs.

Washington Dulles International Airport

This airport has several designated service animal and pet relief areas. There are two post-security relief areas located in the concourses for convenience. These indoor facilities have artificial grass and a fake fire hydrant. There are also three pre-security relief areas located outside the main terminal. Both the indoor and outdoor stations are supplied with waste bags, receptacles, and a sink for handwashing.

Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport

This airport also has several pet relief areas, including an indoor post-security area with fake grass and a sink for easy cleanup. There is also a space dedicated to pets near the baggage claim in Terminal 1 and a relief area outside of the Silver Parking Ramp. Terminal 2 has a grassy area near the baggage claim and near Gate H11. This airport also has a 24/7 pet boarding facility.

Denver International Airport

Denver International Airport has private restrooms for pets in each of its concourses, as well as in the Jeppesen Terminal. There is also an on-site resort called Wag Hotels, which offers overnight boarding, doggy daycare, a pet boutique, parking, shuttle service, and premium grooming services.

Nashville International Airport

This airport has a curbside pet relief area that includes free waste bags. There is also a drinking fountain for both people and pets, with signage explaining the importance of hydration for dogs.

When using pet relief areas, it is important to clean up after your pet and to follow any rules or guidelines provided by the airport. It is also a good idea to check the location of the pet relief areas before arriving at the airport, as they can sometimes be difficult to find.

Airports with multiple pet relief areas

Since May 2009, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has required all airlines to ensure there are service animal relief areas (SARAs) at airports and escorts to those areas for any passenger travelling with a service animal. As a result, airports have created and expanded animal relief areas that are open to all pets and service animals. Airports that service more than 10,000 passengers a year are federally regulated to establish at least one SARA inside each terminal.

Some larger airports have more than one pet relief area, usually one per terminal. For example, Los Angeles International Airport has 11 pet relief areas located both indoors and outdoors, with eight in post-security locations. Similarly, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport offers several pet relief areas, including a 1,000-square-foot dog park.

Reno-Tahoe International Airport has three relief areas for pets and service animals, two of which are in pre-security locations. Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport also has several pet relief areas, including an indoor post-security area with fake grass and a sink for easy cleanup.

Outside of the US, Indira Gandhi Airport (DEL) in India has pet relief areas with waste bags, disposal bins, and cleaning supplies. Helsinki Airport in Finland also has pet relief areas located outside near the entrance to the Arrivals Hall on floor 1, and inside at Gate 51 in the Non-Schengen area.

Airports with indoor and outdoor pet relief areas

Since May 2009, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has required all airlines to provide service animal relief areas (SARAs) at airports, along with escorts to those areas for passengers travelling with service animals. Airports have since created and expanded animal relief areas that are open to all pets. Most pet relief areas are located outside airport terminals, ranging from basic grassy areas to "pet parks" with amenities like a fully equipped dog park. As of August 2016, federal regulations require airports serving 10,000 or more passengers annually to have at least one service animal relief area (SARA) inside each terminal.

Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles International Airport has 11 pet relief areas, more than most airports in the US. Three relief areas are located before security checkpoints, and the remaining eight are in post-security locations, meaning travellers don't need to leave the secure area to access them. The indoor relief areas consist of rooms with artificial grass, a fake fire hydrant, fresh water, and waste disposal facilities. The outdoor atrium offers additional space for walking and stretching.

Washington Dulles International Airport

Washington Dulles International Airport has several designated service animal and pet relief areas. There are two relief areas in post-security locations in the concourses for convenience. These indoor facilities have artificial grass and a fake fire hydrant. Three other relief areas are located outside the main terminal before security. The outdoor locations are enclosed for security, and both indoor and outdoor stations are supplied with waste bags, receptacles, and a sink for handwashing.

Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport

Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport has several pet relief areas, including an indoor post-security area with fake grass and a sink for easy cleanup. Terminal 1 has a dedicated pet space near baggage claim, and Terminal 2 has a grassy area near baggage claim and Gate H11. The airport also has a 24/7 pet boarding facility.

John Wayne Airport, Orange County

John Wayne Airport has three animal relief areas located on the Arrival (lower) Level outside Terminal A near the entrance to Parking Structure A1, outside Terminal C near the entrance to Parking Structure C, and post-security near Gates 12 and 13. Waste disposal bags and receptacles are provided, and owners are asked to clean up after their animals.

Denver International Airport

Denver International Airport has private restrooms for pets in each concourse, as well as in the Jeppesen Terminal. There is also an on-site resort called Wag Hotels, offering various services for dogs and cats, including overnight boarding, daycare, a pet boutique, parking, shuttle service, and premium grooming.

Nashville International Airport

Nashville International Airport (BNA) has a curbside pet relief area that includes free waste bags for travellers. It also has a drinking fountain for both humans and pets, with signage emphasising the importance of hydration for dogs.

Other airports with pet relief areas include Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, Bradley International Airport, Perth Airport, Indira Gandhi Airport, Dublin Airport, Osaka International Airport, and Istanbul Airport.

Frequently asked questions