Pet-friendly TLF now offered at RAFM

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
Moving to a new base or leaving an old base can often be a stressful time for servicemembers and their families. Those having additional members of their family, in the shape of cats or dogs, have the added stress of having to put their pets in kennels while staying in temporary lodging on base.

But that’s all about to change, as the Gateway Inn now has four one-bedroom, pet-friendly temporary living facilities, allowing pet owners to keep their dogs or cats with them while they stay on base.

“The Air Force’s services agency, who we fall under, responded to guests requests -- being able to have their pets with them when they PCS,” said Christian Peal, 100th Services Squadron Gateway Inn lodging manager.

“It’s a great program which allows folks to have their pets with them during a very stressful time. Hopefully it will make the moving experience more enjoyable, and less stressful for our customers,” said Mr. Peal.

Two two-bedroom units will also be added as pet-friendly TLFs by the end of June; they are currently in the process of being renovated and converted.

While having exactly the same facilities as a regular TLF, the pet-friendly rooms also have a large crate (one per pet; a medium size crate is available on request), and food and water bowls.

The pet-friendly rooms cost an extra $10 per night -- flat rate, not per pet -- on top of the regular daily TLF fee of $48. However, the additional $10 charge is not reimbursable.

Only pet owners with dogs or cats can use the facility, and a maximum of two pets are allowed.

The pet-friendly accommodation is available on a first-come, first-served basis, to active duty members and Department of Defense civilians, and their families, whether from RAFs Mildenhall, Lakenheath or Feltwell.

While members PCSing in or out must be on orders to secure a room, rooms are also offered on a space-available basis to ID cardholders temporarily at RAF Mildenhall, as well as retirees.

“This service provides a benefit to our guests,” said Mr. Peal. “Kenneling is very expensive; it’s also stressful for both the owners and pets to be kenneled. But more and more hotels are offering this kind of service, and the Air Force is keeping up with the times.

“Our guests have been requesting this, and it’s great to be finally able to offer this service,” the lodging manager said.

According to staff at the Gateway Inn, the number of days people can keep their pets in TLF is three days when PCSing out, and 30 days for families PCSing in.

Space-available rooms are offered for a maximum of three days.

To reserve a pet-friendly room, guests should make the request when calling to make their billeting reservations.

Reservation staff will then ask several questions to help them find the most suitable room for the guests and their pets, providing a room is available.

However, if no pet-friendly room is available, guests are responsible for putting their pet in kennels. Lodging cannot offer a contract-billeting slip for pet-friendly accommodation off base.

When checking into billeting with pets, owners must sign a pet policy which lists the rules and requirements for those with pets staying on base.

Owners must show their pets up-to-date shot records (rabies, distemper and kennel cough for dogs, and rabies and feline flu shots for cats) when checking into billeting.

Guests are also required to adhere to certain rules when having pets in their room, which include the following:

• Pets must be secured in the crate when the owner/family leaves the billeting room.
• Pets are not allowed on furniture or bedding.
• Each pet must wear a collar bearing the owner’s name, and must be kept on a lead when outside of the facility.
• Cat owners must provide their own litter box, litter and cleaning utensils.
• Pet owners must clean up and dispose of their pets waste. Additional fees may be charged if staff have to clean up pet waste.

“It’s important to ensure pets are locked in the crate when the guests leave the room,” said Mr. Peal.

“If pets are found walking around freely, or on the furniture, and not in the crate our housekeepers will not provide their service. “It’s for the safety of both the housekeeping staff and the pets.”

Col. Colleen Ryan, 100th Mission Support Group commander, is booked in to use the facility in June, prior to her PCS.

“I plan to use the pet-friendly TLF for my final few nights at RAF Mildenhall, and I’m very pleased that our base is able to offer this service,” said Colonel Ryan.

“Even though it’s somewhat limited right now, we do have plans to expand the number of rooms. Traveling with pets can be very stressful, for both owners and pets, and having this service simply takes a lot of that stress away,” she said.

“It means I don’t have to travel far and wide to find a hotel room that accepts pets, or pay the higher cost of a hotel room on the economy. It also means my pets won’t have to travel far from my home to the TLF before they find themselves settled back in.”

Mr. Peal said lodging office staff will be tracking demand for the rooms, to see if more can eventually be converted to pet-friendly rooms.

“While we welcome families from RAFs Mildenhall, Lakenheath and Feltwell, it’s important to remember we only have six rooms available (from June).

“But if we can keep them full, and make six families happy at a time, then we’re all happy,” he said.

Colonel Ryan added the location of the TLF units offer quality of life conveniences close by.

“Now I, as a pet owner, can take advantage of that, whereas I haven’t been able to in the past. Pet-friendly TLFs are a fantastic service, and I hope we see more of them across the Air Force,” the colonel said.