Matthew Larsen

I'm a disabled veteran with a medical alert service dog. Having a service dog relief area before and after security would be a significant benefit for us. My mobility isn't significantly impaired, yet I still have difficulty getting to the relief area in several airports and making my connecting flight, I have missed connecting flights because the animal relief area was so far away, outside of security, and the ground material (concrete) wasn't conducive to an animal relieving themselves. A more limited person would have far more difficulty than I do. The service animal relief areas should have some sort of natural ground, not concrete. Many animals will simply refuse to use a hard surface. A natural surface, as simple as dirt or gravel but preferably grass or some other type of natural ground cover, would make it faster for many dogs to finish, which would make catching our connecting flight easier.