Reader Gery wrote to me following a month-long business trip to Ottawa — he had to leave his wife and pup behind, but he was thinking of his family (and fellow travelers with dogs) as he passed through Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, and he looked for YOW’s pet relief area. The airport’s website [click on “Pets”] says that there is an official, “clearly marked” pet relief area “across the street from the passenger terminal (level 1) near the south end of the parkade” — but the clearness of the marking is questionable, since Gery reported that he did not notice any signs for a pet relief area.

However, he ended up finding a suitable “large area with grass and trees” at just about the place where the official pet relief area is located — “follow signs for car rental,” he said, and exit the terminal. “Cross the street towards the parking garage and you are there.”

Airport roadway; portion of the “parkade;” official pet relief area to the right, just beyond the pictured bit of lawn

The official pet relief area is just to the right, or south, of the picture Gery sent. Keep walking to the right along the sidewalk you see, and look for the indicia of a pet relief area: “[P]lastic bags and garbage containers are available for disposing of waste.”

If you’re in a crazy rush, Gery says “[t]here are also some good places just outside the door on the lower level.” Here’s an example:

As Gery points out, “all bets are off however from Nov. to April with two meters of snow on the ground. :-)” In that kind of weather, you’ll be looking for the nearest place to the terminal that grabs your dog’s attention. Be sure to carry your own poop bags!

Please note that YOW is one of the rare airports that allows pet dogs to walk inside — leashed, to be sure, but anytime a pet dog is allowed out of her carrier in an airport is a cause for celebration.

Many, many thanks to Gery for this report — I find pictures showing the access routes to pet relief areas particularly helpful, and I love it that Gery mentioned some workable alternatives to the official pet relief area. I’ve added this post to Dog Jaunt’s ongoing series of reviews of airport pet relief areas. To see others, visit Dog Jaunt’s handy guide to airport pet relief areas. Please also note that fellow blogger Montecristo, a well-traveled Chihuahua, has also written about Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport — click here to see his report.