Ready, set, summer New uniforms - RAF Lakenheath

y Karen Abeyasekere100th Air Refueling Wing Publis AffairsMoving to a new base or leaving an old base can often be a stressfultime for servicemembers and their families. Those having additionalmembers of their family, in the shape of cats or dogs, have theadded stress of putting their pets in kennels while staying in temporarylodging on base.But that’s all about to change, as the Gateway Inn now has fourone-bedroom, pet-friendly temporary living facilities, allowing petowners to keep their dogs or cats with them while they stay on base.“The Air Forces Services Agency, who we fall under, responded toguests requests –– being able to have their pets with them when theyPCS,” said Christian Peal, 100th Services Squadron Gateway Innlodging manager.“It’s a great program which allows folks to have their pets withthem during a very stressful time. Hopefully it will make the movingexperience more enjoyable and less stressful for our customers,” saidMr. Peal.Two two-bedroom units will also be added as pet-friendly TLFs bythe end of June; they are currently in the process of being renovatedand converted.While having exactly the same facilities as a regular TLF, the petfriendlyrooms also have a large crate (one per pet; a medium sizecrate is available on request), and food and water bowls.The pet-friendly rooms cost an extra $10 per night - flat rate, notper pet - on top of the regular daily TLF fee of $48. However, theadditional $10 charge is not reimbursable.Only pet owners with dogs or cats can use the facility, and a maximumof two pets are allowed.The pet-friendly accommodation is available on a first-come, firstservedbasis to active duty members, Department of Defense civiliansand their families, whether from RAFs Mildenhall, Lakenheath orFeltwell.While members PCSing in or out must be on orders to secure aroom, rooms are also offered on a space-available basis to ID cardholderstemporarily 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 ownersand pets to be kenneled. But more and more hotels are offering thiskind of service, and the Air Force is keeping up with the times.“Our guests have been requesting this, and it’s great to finally beable to offer this service,” the lodging manager said.According to staff at the Gateway Inn, the number of days peoplecan keep their pets in TLF is three when PCSing out, and 30 forJet48NewsLocalPet-friendly TLF offered at Mildenhallfamilies PCSing in.Space-available rooms are offered for a maximum of three days.To reserve a pet-friendly room, guests should make the requestwhen calling to make their billeting reservations.Reservation staff will then ask several questions to help them findthe most suitable room for the guests and their pets, providing a roomis available.However, if no pet-friendly room is available, guests are responsiblefor putting their pet in kennels. Lodging cannot offer a contractbilletingslip for pet-friendly accommodation off base.When checking into billeting with pets, owners must sign a petpolicy which lists the rules and requirements for those with pets stayingon base.Owners must show their pets up-to-date shot records (rabies, distemperand kennel cough for dogs, and rabies and feline flu shots forcats) when checking into billeting.“It’s important to ensure pets are locked in the crate when theguests leave the room,” said Mr. Peal.“If pets are found walking around freely, or on the furniture, andnot in the crate our housekeepers will not provide their service. “It’sfor the safety of both the housekeeping staff and the pets.”Col. Colleen Ryan, 100th Mission Support Group commander, isbooked 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 RAFMildenhall, and I’m very pleased that our base is able to offer thisservice,” said Colonel Ryan.“Even though it’s somewhat limited right now, we do have plansto expand the number of rooms. Traveling with pets can be verystressful, for both owners and pets, and having this service simplytakes a lot of that stress away,” she said.“It means I don’t have to travel far and wide to find a hotel roomthat 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 tothe TLF before they find themselves settled back in.”Mr. Peal said lodging office staff will track demand for the roomsto see if more can eventually be converted to pet-friendly rooms.“While we welcome families from RAFs Mildenhall, Lakenheathand Feltwell, it’s important to remember we only have six roomsavailable (from June).But if we can keep them full, and make sixfamilies happy at a time, then we’re all happy,” he said.Colonel Ryan added the location of the TLF units offer quality oflife conveniences close by.“Now I, as a pet owner, can take advantage of that, whereas Ihaven’t been able to in the past. Pet-friendly TLFs are a fantasticservice, and I hope we see more of them across the Air Force,” thecolonel said.Guests are 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 be kept on a lead or leash 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 pet’s waste. Additional fees may be charged if staff have to clean up pet waste.For more information, call 226-6700.MAY 26, 2006JET 48 MAGAZINE PAGE 9