Originally Posted by
FWAAA
Good question. It's federal law and there's nothing that UA or any other airline can do about it.
The mentally and emotionally disabled are permitted to bring their untrained pets onboard to help them travel if they have the documentation from their mental health professional. Full stop.
And those without any disabilities can bring their pets onboard as long as they have their fake certificates/notes and hide behind the disability law if challenged. There is no verification that the documentation has indeed come from a medical professional and not from an internet "certificate" mill.
As I had stated previously, I know someone w/o any disabilities who has fake "service credentials" for her untrained & unruly dogs. They are obviously not highly trained service dogs but she is ready to cite the disability laws if anyone challenges her on bringing her dogs.
It is very easy to get "documents" stating the dog is an emotional or service animal. Does not mean they are one. I'm sure many that are listed in this thread most likely have fake documentation if any at all.
The disability laws do NOT protect the "disabled" person and the animal from being removed from the plane if they present a problem. If the animal is disruptive or threatening, the airline has every right to remove it from the flight.