Article From SubmitYOURArticle.com: Pet Travel Made Easier: Top 10 US Pet Friendly Airports

When planning a trip with your pet that involves
air travel, ensuring a happy and safe flying
experience for four-legged flier is your top
priority. You've spent ample time researching
the most pet friendly hotels that will best suit
your furry companion, but you're concerned about
their comfort and safety during the whole process
of flying. According to the American Animal
Hospital Association, approximately 76 million
cats and dogs travel with their owners each year
and airports are starting to take notice.

The following airports have made the most strides
in pet travel by opening up designated areas for
animals to take a potty break, get water, and
stretch their legs. If your route includes any
of these stops, these pet areas provide a great
way to comfort and reconnect with your pet once
you get to your destination or while waiting for
a connecting flight.

1. Atlanta: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
International Airport (ATL) We blogged about the
grand opening of Hartsfield-Jackson's off-leash
dog park last month and we definitely had to
include it in our list. The 1,000-square-foot
fully-fenced Poochie Park includes flowers,
grass, rocks, and benches to set the scene for
dogs to sniff around, get a bit of exercise, and
do their business. Being the world's busiest
airport, it has seen its fair share of pets pass
through and wanted to better cater to their
four-legged passengers.

2. Houston: George Bush Intercontinental Airport
(IAH) Not only does George Bush Intercontinental
have four designated pet areas, it also offers
the only onsite kennel managed by an airline
(Continental Airlines) in the United States. The
kennel provides 1,100 square feet of space for
runs and exercise pens, day kenneling, overnight
kenneling, and grooming.

3. Philadelphia: Philadelphia International
Airport (PHL) The PHL has 7 (count 'em, seven)
pet relief areas that include a mulch surface, a
bench, and a faux fire hydrant. Each fenced-in
area ranges from 250 to 600 square feet and also
includes a pet waste bag dispenser and trash can.

4. Phoenix: Sky Harbor International Airport
(PHX) The Pet Patch, the Paw Pad, and the Bone
Yard are Sky Harbor's three designated
pet-friendly zones. These areas offer a place
for pets to get relief, wander and sniff, as well
as drink fresh water. Mitts for clean up are
provided.

5. St. Louis: Lambert-St. Louis International
Airport (STL) Fire hydrants are just one of the
features at Lambert-St. Louis International
Airport's two outdoor pet rest areas. Animals
are allowed to play off-leash in the 400 square
foot gated spaces and also include park benches,
trash cans, and plastic mitts for cleanup.

6. Reno: Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RTIA)
The "Bark Park" at the Reno-Tahoe International
Airport was designed to make pet travel more
convenient. It provides a restroom, fresh
drinking water, and "Mutt Mitts" all under a
canopy to protect travelers and their pets from
the weather.

7. San Francisco: San Francisco International
Airport (SFO) San Francisco International Airport
offers two pet travel relief areas that are
landscaped and fully fenced. They come equipped
with drinking water, bowls, and garbage areas
with "mutt mitt" dispensers. The areas are
available to passengers and their pets 24 hours a
day.

8. Los Angeles: Los Angeles International Airport
(LAX) LAX boasts two areas to make everyone's pet
travel companions a bit more comfortable. The
Pet Park comes equipped with a dog house, plastic
bags, and a trash can. There is another pet rest
area for convenience, although pets must be on a
leash.

9. Honolulu: Honolulu International Airport (HNL)
Travelers' beloved companions get to "paws" in
paradise at Honolulu International Airport's
fenced-in, grassy area under palm trees. Fresh
water, plastic bags, and trash cans are available
for service dogs, pets in transit, and working
airport animals.

10. Denver: Denver International Airport (DIA)
Denver International has opened an exercise area
where pets can walk around and relieve themselves
after a long flight. The space is enclosed and
wheelchair accessible.

It's wonderful to see airports taking a page from
pet friendly hotels and finding ways to make pet
travel less worrisome and much more welcoming for
both pets and their people. This trend is bound
to continue, so check in with the airports you'll
be traveling to and ask about their pet services.

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Kim Salerno is the President & Founder of
TRIPSwithPETS.com. She founded the pet travel
site in 2003 and is an expert in the field of pet
travel. Kim is a veteran of the travel industry -
formerly serving as Director of Internet
Marketing for Certified Vacations. Her mission is
to ensure that pets are welcome, happy,and safe
in their travels. Visit her company website at
http://www.tripswithpets.com

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