The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
installed seven dog bathrooms last year. One for each and every concourse. It
wasn’t until recently, nearly a full year later, that airport officials
revealed to the public that the canine restrooms cost $3.9 million.
Airport
administrators were quick to point to the complexities of building inside a
24-hour facility in defense of the ludicrously high price tag. They said
construction was limited to overnight hours and
that existing facilities had to be torn down to make room for the new
doggie loos. What existing facilities?
Bathrooms for humans? Check-in
counters? Maintenance closets? Air-traffic control towers?
According
to a Fox News article, the Federal Department of Transportation (FDOT) mandates
that large airports have Service Animal Relief Areas (SARAs). A spokesperson
for the airport told Fox News: “In order for ATL to be in compliance with
federal ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards, these relief areas had
to be built.” The total cost of building the canine cans was supposedly
absorbed through “airport funding,” not taxpayer dollars, and is reimbursable
through PFCs (“Passenger Facility Charges”).
Well,
OMG, WTF and BS.
I have
seen several pictures of these designated doggie doo-doo dens. These “relief
areas” are replete with artificial turf and fake fire hydrants, among other
amenities. Seriously. Although I didn’t see any bidets, so French Poodles are
apparently being discriminated against.
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