Several weeks ago I vacationed in the far north of Australia some 3,000 kilometres from home and the flight had a stopover at Sydney airport for a few hours. I didn't mind too much though; I read my book, grabbed a coffee and wandered about the many stores located in the domestic terminal. I wasn't much interested in the shops although something certainly caught my eye and required further investigation.
I'm sure you've heard of guide dogs which help the blind navigate around the place. Well, it seems, here in Australia, we have guide koalas and guide kangaroos also.
I saw this sign on a door near to the bathroom facilities for men and women and it seemed rather curious. I figured it was a facility designed for assistance animals by the words and images but...koalas and kangaroos? I've lived in Australia my entire life and have seen plenty of both, but never leading a blind person along!
As it turns out though, it's for dogs, guide dogs, and not koalas and kangaroos after all.
Apparently Sydney airport has seen an increase in assistance dogs coming through and wanted to create a facility that would provide them a "more enjoyable experience." They got the idea from JFK Airport in New York apparently.
The facility has a wash-down bay, with a hose and artificial lawn and other dog friendly elements that are apparently much-desired by assistance dogs who seemingly like all the modern conveniences when they travel. I think it's something like an airline lounge. I've been in many of those myself and they're legit...I wonder if the dogs get tea, coffee, wines and a buffet meal too? I'll be honest and say I can't imagine a blind person transiting through Sydney airport would all of a sudden decide to wash their dog and I have a suspicion it's more about political correctness or avoiding possible litigation than anything else. Maybe I'm wrong though, it's happened once or twice...being wrong I mean.
Furthermore, the inclusion of the koala and kangaroo image discombobulated me somewhat, as did the need to include the person-image on the right that looks like a man with a big hard on! See the one holding the kangaroo? I guess whomever did the signage thought it was amusing but it's all a little weird really, the koala, kangaroo and hard-on person.
I've seen guide dogs in action many times, in fact, one of my friends trains them and she does an amazing job. They make such a difference to people's lives and really are such clever dogs. It was the first time I've seen such a facility though and I guess it'll become more prevalent as time goes on although I'd like to see T-Rex get an image up there, I mean, is it right to discriminate against dinosaurs? Methinks not.
Have you ever seen such a facility? Have you been inside one? Are you a guide dog, or possibly a guide kangaroo or koala? Are you T-Rex just wishing to be acknowledged on a door sign? Feel free to leave a comment, I'd be most pleased to read it.
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised so be humble and kind
Any images in this post are my own
hahaha hardon person
I've never seen one, but if guide dogs get this kind of treatment, I think all dogs should. Doggie spas should be made mandatory in all public places, hardon persons and all. Dogs should be allowed to fly. Cats too! Kangaroos, koalas, the whole shebang. Now that's diversity.
Lol, I was hoping that hard-on comment would get a laugh or two. 🍆
It's all a bit selective isn't it? What about sharks and elephants, and meerkats and orangutans? Shouldn't every animal have its own bathroom? What's good for one is good for all right?
#bathroomsforeveryone
#bathroomsforeverything
Indeed, even better! Think of all the jobs that bathroom building will create! No more unemployment.
Capuchin monkeys have been trained as service animals for those with paralysis.
But too many people abuse the system trying to pass off “emotional support” animals as service animals. I saw a story a while back about an airline that drew the line when someone tried to board a plane with their emotional support turkey.
Yeah, the support animal thing is a little out of control although, when I want to bring my support crocodile onto aircraft I demand the right. Isn't that how it's done?
Capuchin monkeys need bathrooms at Sydney airport! Not turkeys though.
bwahahaahahahaha definitely a wtf moment. I agree with you. There wasn't much logical thought put into this sign, however well meaning. Damn good for a laugh though 🤣
Yeah, not a bad laugh. The sign is typical Australian humour really, I think Staffers would understand too.
I am ashamedly trying to picture a visually impaired person trying to wash their dog after a hour flight though 🙈🙈 no man 🙄🤣
I know right? Then that wet dog smell walking around through the airport. Talk about well thought out ideas huh?
no man 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈
Ah the clown world we live in right now. Persons with a hard on, unsure of where their biology is originating from but they could have a set of nice tits and have a hard on at the same time. Devolution is certainly heading downwards that’s for sure!
I’m wondering when we are going to start coming up with bathrooms and rest areas for things like mosquitoes too. I have my safety mosquito with me, it makes me feel comfortable and he needs to feed on your blood so you can’t say no otherwise you’re a bigot and going to jail.
It's all a little out of control and getting worse. I wonder where it'll lead and how far it goes.
Washington DC's Dulles Airport has a Pet Restroom as does Chicago's O'Hare and of course, JFK. Those are the only ones I have been in, but, there are more as the federal regulations required it if you had a number of passengers. I think it was over 10,000 per year. That was over 5 years ago, so I imagine many of our major airports have one. They are a great idea and I especially like that they have a water hose to wash down (spray down) the area after you are finished. It is a nice touch for dogs.
Next dogs will have frequent flier miles and cheap car rentals! Maybe one day equality will come to airports and every animal will have their own bathroom to use. Ah yes, only a dream now, but in the future...who knows how far equality will come. Let's hope Greta Thunberg forgets about the environment (I think that already happened) and starts campaigning for bathrooms for everyone and every animal.
Of course, yes I think it's a good idea for the dogs; guide dogs do an important job for many people who have vision and other difficulties. It makes sense they have a place to perform their ablutions in airports.
Uhhhhhh. Remember that I am essentially politically incorrect-just by force of habit, I think. I'm a big supporter of genuine support animals but a lot of people abuse that system...
Anyway, I think the person on the kangaroo lead is transgender. They. Half and half-one side a dress with angled smaller arms, the other side with pants and bigger arms pointing straight down. Not to think that there might not be a shaftie involved...
Tell me I'm wrong and I'll gladly apologize to anyone I have offended or irritated or whatever.
I'm going to stick with my initial interpretation of it.
"The facility has a wash-down bay, with a hose and artificial lawn and other dog friendly elements that are apparently much-desired by assistance dogs who seemingly like all the modern conveniences when they travel."
That made me laugh !
I don't know. Suppose the blind person doesn't see the sign and goes right past? Will the dog let them know? Is there a sound only dogs can hear that would alert them to the lounge and then they could let their owner know they would like to stop in for a while?
So many questions !
All good questions of course...but there's a simple answer...there's braille on the door. Simple.
Those boffins at the assistance dog bathroom corporation have got all bases covered. How could we ever doubt their brilliance?
Lol.
Kangaroo inclusion is next-level wokeness lmao.
belemo
Yeah, kangaroos sure are clever.