Airport opens restrooms for dogs

LAMBERT, Mo., June 17 (UPI) -- A Missouri airport has unveiled its latest luxury amenity -- a pair of rest stops for dogs on the go who have to "go."

The Lambert-St. Louis International Airport formally opened the "rest areas" -- which include park benches, trash cans and plastic bags for cleanup -- this month outside of its Main and East Terminals, the St. Louis (Mo.) Post-Dispatch reported Wednesday.

Airport officials said the 20-by-20-foot areas were designed to be comforting to traveling pooches and their owners.

"We know this is an important service and should ease the worry of many of our travelers, especially those who must fly with service animals," Airport Director Richard Hrabko said in a statement.

The airport is only the latest to offer business-making areas for the dog on the go. Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix and Texas' Austin-Bergstrom International Airport both have dog-friendly facilities that officials said are regularly utilized by a number of four-legged travelers.