I think Howard has got to the heart of the issue. Would the CSO only be satisfied with a mat that had " Moisture Absorbent Animal Mat" printed on it?
Use some famous Australian ingenuity and find something, anything. How long was the flight for goodness sake? These guide dogs are very well trained and resist doing what comes naturally until they reach a welcoming patch of grass.
A spilt can of beer or cola would do more damage as it seeped under the carpet into the floor panels. Maybe we should place children on an absorbent mat. A child absorbent mat!