LA Times: Airlines seek to limit types of therapy animals allowed on planes
Sep 24, 2016, 4:36 pm
#1
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LA Times: Airlines seek to limit types of therapy animals allowed on planes
Turkeys, pigs and even roosters have flown the friendly skies, carried onto commercial planes by passengers who identified the critters as emotional support animals.
But a committee of airline representatives and disabled rights advocates has been meeting for months in Washington, D.C., to come up with new rules on what type of animals should be permitted on planes and what documents are required to prove the animals are needed.
But a committee of airline representatives and disabled rights advocates has been meeting for months in Washington, D.C., to come up with new rules on what type of animals should be permitted on planes and what documents are required to prove the animals are needed.
Sep 25, 2016, 6:01 am
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They'd be better off legislating against fake "support animal" credential mills that will send anyone an official-looking certificate and harness for their dog, cat, potbellied pig, etc. that gets them into the cabin via fraudulent means.
Sep 27, 2016, 11:59 am
#3
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I was on a flight, 3-3 single aisle in Y.
Two women with an Irish setter pre-boarded and sat in the Y bulkhead with the dog fully occupying the area between the seats and the bulkhead. I was across the aisle.
It was a completely full flight. One pax, a woman, was stuck sitting in the other bulkhead row with her feet literally under the dog's back end for the flight.
Two women with an Irish setter pre-boarded and sat in the Y bulkhead with the dog fully occupying the area between the seats and the bulkhead. I was across the aisle.
It was a completely full flight. One pax, a woman, was stuck sitting in the other bulkhead row with her feet literally under the dog's back end for the flight.
Sep 29, 2016, 2:23 am
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Support animals - if the person cannot fly without an animal, (s)he is unfit for flying and as such should not be allowed to fly.
The ONLY exception I'd make is for guide dogs for the blind - if correctly documented.
The ONLY exception I'd make is for guide dogs for the blind - if correctly documented.
Sep 29, 2016, 2:56 am
#9
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Well.. there are a whole range of actual SUPPORT animals i'm happy to see fly... from the classic seeing eye dog to various seizure dogs and so on...
BUT... there needs to be a single authorised issuer of permits for such valid animals.... with strict requirements for approval... and stiff penalties for attempting to scam...
Is that feasible... I dont know...
BUT... there needs to be a single authorised issuer of permits for such valid animals.... with strict requirements for approval... and stiff penalties for attempting to scam...
Is that feasible... I dont know...
Oct 4, 2016, 8:48 pm
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From your lips to gods ears! It is getting out of control.
Oct 5, 2016, 11:53 am
#11
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I'd like to see limits on the size of animals. If your animal exceeds a certain size, you pay for another seat (or more) to accommodate your animal.
I knew a friend of a friend who got a part-wolf dog. She's a small woman (5'3", 105 lbs); at 6 months the dog was already taller than her waist. When she decided to relocate from OR to NY, she didn't want to ship the dog, so she claimed it was her 'comfort animal'.
That dog was already bigger, at six months, than the setter I observed - the one that took up the entire bulkhead floor space of three seats, one of which was occupied by a stranger.
It's uncomfortable for both pax and the dog. I should not be obligated to yield all of my floor space to someone's dog If it needs that much additional room, in the cabin, then pay for it - whether or not it's a legit comfort dog.
I knew a friend of a friend who got a part-wolf dog. She's a small woman (5'3", 105 lbs); at 6 months the dog was already taller than her waist. When she decided to relocate from OR to NY, she didn't want to ship the dog, so she claimed it was her 'comfort animal'.
That dog was already bigger, at six months, than the setter I observed - the one that took up the entire bulkhead floor space of three seats, one of which was occupied by a stranger.
It's uncomfortable for both pax and the dog. I should not be obligated to yield all of my floor space to someone's dog If it needs that much additional room, in the cabin, then pay for it - whether or not it's a legit comfort dog.
Oct 6, 2016, 9:01 am
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". . . The Asthma and Allergy Foundation wants to limit the type of animals allowed on a plane for a different reason.
'Allowing various types of animals to fly will expose all passengers to pet dander, even when the animal is riding in an enclosed carrier,' the group wrote to members of the committee."
I agree. For those of us with allergies to pet dander, this is a big problem.
'Allowing various types of animals to fly will expose all passengers to pet dander, even when the animal is riding in an enclosed carrier,' the group wrote to members of the committee."
I agree. For those of us with allergies to pet dander, this is a big problem.
Last edited by TRRed; Oct 6, 2016 at 9:02 am Reason: typo
Oct 11, 2016, 10:25 am
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'Emotional support animal'? Eh, no, I think not. Your mental state is obviously fragile, and we wouldn't want to risk your life, or that of other passengers, in case of an emergency. Do have a nice day, and here's the number for AVIS.
[Removed OMNI/PR-esque political comment]
[Removed OMNI/PR-esque political comment]
Last edited by cblaisd; Oct 11, 2016 at 10:14 pm Reason: Please take politics to OMNI/PR
Oct 14, 2016, 7:21 pm
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Write the Dept of Transportation
I wrote the Dept of Transportation about this. I had a dog for 17 years so I do like dogs. But, "emotional support animals" are mostly people's pets who have sent away for these fake documents. I have flown 225,000 so far this year and there are too many animals. I couldn't get out of my row with the persons dog on the floor. What happened to my safety? I almost fell trying to step over the animal. It's out of control. And, if I complain, I get moved. Everyone needs to write the DOT. Google DOT and you'll get a form to fill out and email. It's very easy. Also, the American Disabilities Act protects legitimate service animals who help people see and hear. These "emotional support animals" are not service animals. All of us who fly, let's handle this. Write the DOT.