Need for Animal Handling, Inspection, and Holding Facilities on Airport Grounds

Upon arrival in the US, dogs and cats are not physically inspected prior to being released. This practice allows the importation of dogs and cats that could spread disease in our nation. Additionally, animal handling, holding, and veterinary medical facilities are located predominately off airport grounds. Thus, the ability to inspect, handle, and evaluate dogs and cats is not contained; allowing zoonotic and communicable diseases and vectors transmitted by dogs and cats to enter the US. Let's not also forget that the ability to respond to veterinary medical emergencies is delayed, since this occurs off airport grounds.

The need for commercial potential for public-private partnerships to operate processing centers for both animal imports and exports was cited in The ACRP Synthesis 64: Issues Related to Accommodating Animals Traveling through Airports, 2015. At that time, the only facility that provided this service was the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre in UK.

In 2017, The ARK became North America's only animal terminal and full-service 24-hour privately owned airport quarantine facility on airport grounds, located at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). With on-staff veterinarians and animal care staff members, the ARK responds to any situation involving the transportation of live animals.

Review the policies and procedures for the importation of dogs and cats at major airports in the US. The goal is to identify locations where animal handling, inspection, and holding facilities are needed on airport grounds in the US.

Review the data to determine the need for animal handling, inspection, and holding centers at airports that receive a high volume of animals. Determine the animal handling, inspection, and holding services provided surrounding the airports. Consult with federal and state regulatory authorities to determine their needs to prevent disease transmission via animals.

The need for public-private partnerships to operate processing centers for both animal imports and exports was cited in The ACRP Synthesis 64: Issues Related to Accommodating Animals Traveling through Airports, 2015. These centers would serve as an animal handling, inspection, and holding facility for animals. Their location on airport grounds serves the needs of animals traveling through the airport by providing veterinary medical care, welfare assessments, and the inspection of animals being imported into the US. While the importation of animals into the US falls under the regulatory authorities of multiple federal agencies (CDC, USDA-APHIS, USFWS) and state agencies, identifying the location of this need could assist with future policies and procedures to enforce their regulatory requirements.

Gaps identified:

1. Only 1 animal handling, inspection, and holding center exists in the US.

ACRP Synthesis 64: Issues Related to Accommodating Animals Traveling through Airports, 2015 (file:///C:/Users/Nynel/OneDrive/Documents/ACRP_Issues%20relatedto%20accommodating%20animals%20traveling%20through%20airports.pdf)

The ARK (http://arkjfk.com/)

MWAA considers building animal quarantine center at Dulles International Airport (http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/articles/mwaa-considers-building-animal-quarantine-center-at-dulles-international-airport/article_ad1d6bc4-b10c-11e6-8bb2-2fa12d446f39.html)