sciguy0504

Definitely cried from laughing while reading that article.

LowlyDLsilver

A few weeks back ran into a customer service supervisor who transports service dogs in training around the country, space available, in his "spare" time. Was headed from the west coast to Canada, met him and the pup in the CLT lounge.

So yes, US does things like that behind the scenes that they don't brag on, they just do.

awaflyboy

The program is called Puppies In Flight, it's a wonderful program that I'm proud to be a part of. This program allows employees to use flight benefits, in their spare time, to train service dogs about air travel while transporting them on a flight(s). In addition, employees volunteer to transport dogs to either be paired with their new companion or to be delivered to the individual who will raise them to become a service dog.

It's a very competitive program, when a transport is posted, about a hundred employees sign up for it and then it is randomly assigned to one lucky individual. I can tell you when I'm lucky enough to get a transport, it is a very rewarding job.

In 2012, to date, this program has had 306 volunteers participate in 184 transports. :-)

phisher4

As a medical professional I can tell you that there are virtually no prospective data supporting the utility or efficacy of emotional support animals. While there may be anecdotal evidence, this does not constitute proof.

Until there is an evidence-based recommendation on this topic from consensus-forming organizations such as the APA, there is no role to have these animals on airplanes or to allow them a privileged place in public.

swanscn

Interesting I was on this flight in the spring and saw my 1st comfort dog.

dukeman

Read about my experience with a "service" animal on United a few years ago! See HERE

GAC

Of course it's a joke but welcome to modern life where all are victims and even those who can put down a fork are considered poor victims of mental disorder.

Only thing I really find surprising is that there is no law where the person flys for free too.

bkafrick

Slightly OT, but College Residence Halls now must accommodate "Emotional Support Animals" by allowing dogs to live in the dorms.

http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2013/05/16/...dogs-hud-says/

bundrock

Was on a flight from Cincy to Philly two weeks ago and encountered my first one. An extremely large pit bull which was the emotional support dog. The man was a very muscular man who was quite large and his dog was easily the biggest pit bull I have ever seen. He was in the bulkhead seat and there simply was no room for him but the flight was 100% full. The lady next to him had to agree to letting the dog lay on her feet (not joking).

I was shocked. I heard him mention that security personnel were afraid of his dog during screening.

swanscn

The only time I saw a comfort dog, it was in the passengers lap the entire way from LAX to PHL. I guess I just expected them to all be like this, dog was better behaved than most passengers.

nlkm9

Audiologist here- I have a patient who has very severe hearing loss and got a bichon - but it's a pet. However she registered it as a service/ emotional dog so she could bring it to hotels and on planes. I truly have no issue with a true service animal... But I have to agree, like my patient people are really taking advantage of the rule ..... For every true one, I bet there are 9 frauds. I guess it's human nature...

bkafrick

See - the thing is... There is no "registration" for service animals. As been posted several times, all you have to do is say you need the animal for coping/emotional support, and use other key phrases that indicate its not simply a pet.

There probably should be some criteria for licensing of service animals, but with the ADA, people are afraid to say anything that might be in contrast with the ADA. I doubt you'd see our legislature pass bills outlining a licensing or registration. It would be seen as "bullying" the disabled.

nlkm9

yes--correct--it seems to me though that she had to go thru a process to get the special harness that she puts on the dog.....then of course i see a lot of hearing dogs--they are very cool

FWAAA

Yes, but emotional support animals need not be specially trained, registered or wear any identifying vest or harness. If an emotionally or mentally disabled individual convinces their mental health professional that their mental health would benefit from traveling with their pet, err, "emotional support animal," then all they need is such a letter from the doc. And with that, no longer need the animal be caged and kept under the seat nor need the patient pay the in-cabin pet fee. Their dog or cat or duck or other emotional support animal can sit on their lap.

I'm just thankful that I don't suffer from a qualifying mental or emotional disability that would permit me to bring my dog or cat onboard for free.

nlkm9

That is got to be why all of a sudden I am seeing so many more animals at airports- and in hotels. I am seriously allergic to cats, to the point where I will not go to anyone's home who has one...wonder what my rights are if the passenger next to me has a cat?