What should you do if you encounter an unleashed animal on the airside?

When encountering an unleashed animal on the airside, the appropriate action is to report it to ground control and avoid engaging with the animal. This approach is essential for maintaining safety and security in a high-risk area like an airport, where the presence of an animal can create serious hazards, potentially affecting operations and endangering both the animal and humans.

Reporting the situation allows trained personnel to assess the situation and take steps to safely manage the animal without putting anyone at risk. Engaging with the animal personally could lead to dangerous encounters, and ignoring the animal may result in unforeseen accidents or disruptions.

While waiting for help from animal control or ground control personnel is also necessary in some circumstances, it is primarily the responsibility of ground control to respond to airside incidents, ensuring that proper protocols are followed and minimizing disruption to airport operations. Thus, reporting to ground control while maintaining a safe distance is the most effective and safer course of action.