Emotional Support Animals, Service Dogs and Comfort Pets: The Definitive Thread
#706
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I don't take my critters on airplane rides, but they do get to wander around downtown with me. I've noticed over the past few years that more and more children approach and ask, "May I pet your dog?" They always get my permission and a smile.
#707
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Also, (saying this for general knowledge, not in contrast to what you said), children should be taught to always ask a dog's handler whether it's ok to pet the dog. Adults should, too.
I don't take my critters on airplane rides, but they do get to wander around downtown with me. I've noticed over the past few years that more and more children approach and ask, "May I pet your dog?" They always get my permission and a smile.
I don't take my critters on airplane rides, but they do get to wander around downtown with me. I've noticed over the past few years that more and more children approach and ask, "May I pet your dog?" They always get my permission and a smile.
I take my cat to cat shows on occasion and have no issues with people petting him since the breed loves people and attention but some cat owners will rip you a new one for touching their cat.
If I'm out walking and see someone walking their dog and the dog seems friendly I'll always ask if it's ok to pet the dog first.
#708
Join Date: Feb 2008
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I saw a new twist to this Friday. An older woman with a carriage preboarding. I didn't think much of it until I got down the jetway and she was starting to remove what I thought was an infant from said stroller. Nope. A small lap dog in it's ESA vest.
#710
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Lazy dog or one with breathing problems that can't walk far?
#713
Join Date: Aug 2004
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AMEN. Period.
Today I went to a doctors office. At the desk trying to chit chat with the secretary's was a patient with his medium-sized dog in his arms. In a doctor's office. I refused to go up to the desk because the dog was level with my face and I didn't want to chance getting bit. After a minute, the man realized I was waiting and he backed away from the desk so I could check in.
I have a fear of dogs. I am also allergic to cats.
What happens if I board a flight and find out the person next to me has brought their dog/cat? What happens then? When do my rights as a Human Being come into play? And do "Emotional Service Animals" have precedence over my right as a Human Being? How about MY emotional instability due to an Emotional Service Animal?
How does THAT play out?
Today I went to a doctors office. At the desk trying to chit chat with the secretary's was a patient with his medium-sized dog in his arms. In a doctor's office. I refused to go up to the desk because the dog was level with my face and I didn't want to chance getting bit. After a minute, the man realized I was waiting and he backed away from the desk so I could check in.
I have a fear of dogs. I am also allergic to cats.
What happens if I board a flight and find out the person next to me has brought their dog/cat? What happens then? When do my rights as a Human Being come into play? And do "Emotional Service Animals" have precedence over my right as a Human Being? How about MY emotional instability due to an Emotional Service Animal?
How does THAT play out?
In regards to the incident where a passenger was mauled by a dog that was an ESA I hope he sues both the owner of the ESA as well as Delta. Until the law is changed I think the airlines should be in a "no win" position so no matter what they do they WILL take a financial hit.
I hope any judgment against Delta over the passenger who was mauled is so large and so off the charts as to dwarf any fines that the government could levy for refusing to allow ESA's in the cabin.
#714
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Corryn is spot on. I think the rights of those who are allergic to dogs/cats as well as those who are phobic to such should be more important than those who wish to bring their animals on board. I think Service Animals should be Gate Checked and sent to the hold as well.
In regards to the incident where a passenger was mauled by a dog that was an ESA I hope he sues both the owner of the ESA as well as Delta. Until the law is changed I think the airlines should be in a "no win" position so no matter what they do they WILL take a financial hit.
I hope any judgment against Delta over the passenger who was mauled is so large and so off the charts as to dwarf any fines that the government could levy for refusing to allow ESA's in the cabin.
In regards to the incident where a passenger was mauled by a dog that was an ESA I hope he sues both the owner of the ESA as well as Delta. Until the law is changed I think the airlines should be in a "no win" position so no matter what they do they WILL take a financial hit.
I hope any judgment against Delta over the passenger who was mauled is so large and so off the charts as to dwarf any fines that the government could levy for refusing to allow ESA's in the cabin.
#715
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However, there are rules that say service animals can be removed if they threaten safety, etc. The dog was growling during boarding and the victim was clearly very anxious about the situation, apparently asking three times whether the dog will bite him.
#716
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,239
Corryn is spot on. I think the rights of those who are allergic to dogs/cats as well as those who are phobic to such should be more important than those who wish to bring their animals on board. I think Service Animals should be Gate Checked and sent to the hold as well.
In regards to the incident where a passenger was mauled by a dog that was an ESA I hope he sues both the owner of the ESA as well as Delta. Until the law is changed I think the airlines should be in a "no win" position so no matter what they do they WILL take a financial hit.
I hope any judgment against Delta over the passenger who was mauled is so large and so off the charts as to dwarf any fines that the government could levy for refusing to allow ESA's in the cabin.
In regards to the incident where a passenger was mauled by a dog that was an ESA I hope he sues both the owner of the ESA as well as Delta. Until the law is changed I think the airlines should be in a "no win" position so no matter what they do they WILL take a financial hit.
I hope any judgment against Delta over the passenger who was mauled is so large and so off the charts as to dwarf any fines that the government could levy for refusing to allow ESA's in the cabin.
#717
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I'm not sending my cat in cargo. And it won't be an ESA.
#718
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,239
And may I ask, where are you licensed to practice medicine and psychiatry? Because otherwise, I really don't care whether you think my wife's phobia of cats is ridiculous. Frankly, I think traveling with pets for any reason other than relocation is ridiculous, but no one cares about my opinion, just as I'm not particularly interested in yours.
As long as you comply with the other rules for transporting pets in the cabin, i.e. keeping your cat in its carrier throughout the flight, no problem. Take it out, though, and you'll be sending me a bill for a replacement cat. I'm far more concerned with my wife's well-being than that of your cat's.
As long as you comply with the other rules for transporting pets in the cabin, i.e. keeping your cat in its carrier throughout the flight, no problem. Take it out, though, and you'll be sending me a bill for a replacement cat. I'm far more concerned with my wife's well-being than that of your cat's.
#719
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I agree it's absurd to suggest sending a pet in cargo. That's like saying an infant shouldn't be allowed to fly if another passenger has a phobia/nervousness around little kids. If my seatmate has a cat phobia and I happen to be flying with my cat I'll gladly get reseated as long as it's an aisle in the same cabin of service. In the two cases I mentioned before where I had a seatmate that had severe cat allergies (who wanted reseated but decided to stay where they were when they found out they would be sitting in coach instead since I had a higher status on one occasion and another I had a paid upgrade and theirs was a free upgrade) I kept the cat in the carrier under the seat in front of me the entire trip and I always ask my seat mate if they have an objection to my unzipping the top flap of the carrier part way so he can stick his head out.
#720
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,239
Cat phobias do exist, my mom had a boss in the 70s whose wife had a cat phobia. I still remember the time they came to our house and my mom didn't know she had a cat phobia until they arrived and we had to put the cat in a bedroom.
I agree it's absurd to suggest sending a pet in cargo. That's like saying an infant shouldn't be allowed to fly if another passenger has a phobia/nervousness around little kids. If my seatmate has a cat phobia and I happen to be flying with my cat I'll gladly get reseated as long as it's an aisle in the same cabin of service. In the two cases I mentioned before where I had a seatmate that had severe cat allergies (who wanted reseated but decided to stay where they were when they found out they would be sitting in coach instead since I had a higher status on one occasion and another I had a paid upgrade and theirs was a free upgrade) I kept the cat in the carrier under the seat in front of me the entire trip and I always ask my seat mate if they have an objection to my unzipping the top flap of the carrier part way so he can stick his head out.
I agree it's absurd to suggest sending a pet in cargo. That's like saying an infant shouldn't be allowed to fly if another passenger has a phobia/nervousness around little kids. If my seatmate has a cat phobia and I happen to be flying with my cat I'll gladly get reseated as long as it's an aisle in the same cabin of service. In the two cases I mentioned before where I had a seatmate that had severe cat allergies (who wanted reseated but decided to stay where they were when they found out they would be sitting in coach instead since I had a higher status on one occasion and another I had a paid upgrade and theirs was a free upgrade) I kept the cat in the carrier under the seat in front of me the entire trip and I always ask my seat mate if they have an objection to my unzipping the top flap of the carrier part way so he can stick his head out.