Purr-fect solution - pet housing at Travis Air Force Base - Brief Article

Airman, August, 2001 by Lt. Cane A. Seydel

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The lodging staff discovered you could teach an old dog new tricks when they dedicated 23 temporary lodging facilities to per owners.

Although animals weren't allowed in the quarters a few years ago, Tim Wible, lodging manager, looked at the hotel industry and found some places accepted pets at an additional cost.

So, for less than $2,000 for portable pet cages and pet dishes, a test program accommodating pets was born. Before the program started, the closest kennels to the base were more than 10 miles away and cost at least $18 per night per pet. At $10 per night (regardless of the number of animals), Travis' pet quarters are an affordable alternative.

The cages keep pets out of trouble while their owners are away, minimizing damage. Owners are also required to have an identification collar on their pets and put them on leashes outside. Although there's more cleaning for housekeeping and a few more rules for the pet owners, the lodging staff thinks it's a win-win situation.

The program is the cat's meow to more than 800 families on the move.

"Many families have said the program has eased the burden of their move," Wible said. "Having their pet with them has made their children feel more at home during the move."