ijgordon

Does an ESA really need to be trained??? I am not under that impression. Unlike walking a blind person across the street, an animal doesn't really need to "do" much to provide emotional support.

But of course i agree that many many people are abusing the system. Of course if the airlines didn't charge ridiculous fees for carrying on small pets, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

3Cforme

ESAs don't need to be trained.

Everybody is entitled to him own opinion but uninformed opinions are worthless to intelligent debate. Read the relevant CFR - please.

kb9522

They may not have to be trained... but they sure as hell do need to be trained.

KenTarmac

lol ...

I follow your chain of login.

This reminds me of a related pun ... "I smell what you're steppin' in."

It amazes me how this thread took off about ESAs when it really should be about allergy suffers or those with a debilitating fear of animals.

IMHO it's the allergy suffers who need to be trained to know their limitations and consider an alternative form of transportation if it's going to be too much for them to ride on a plane with a dog or two.

FWAAA

I don't know "most people" who travel with emotional support animals, so I don't have any data on that.

Do you have any numbers or data for that assertion? I'm neither "blitzed out of [my] mind" nor "kidding myself." My posts in this thread are factual, not made up, and reflect the DOT's definition of the various types of animals that the law requires airlines to carry in the cabin.

You're right; a properly trained animal in an airplane cabin might very well be a "service animal," the type of animal trained to provide specific services to its human handler. An emotional support animal is merely a pet that travels with a human handler who has been diagnosed with an emotional or mental disability such that their doctor or therapist thinks they should travel with a furry pet to help keep them calm.

Exactly correct. ESAs' primary function is to look cute and keep their human handler calm and collected.

Again, 100% agreement with you. But since I like dogs and cats, I don't mind how many people bring their animals and I don't concern myself with worrying about who is "cheating" and who really needs their animals.

Here's a sketch of me and my emotional support cat:



My question is this: What sort of training would you deem sufficient for a cat? Ever try to train a cat? Cat sits on lap and purrs. PTSD-suffering human travels in comfort.

kb9522

Babou doesn't sit, he scratches and tears up suits (or turtlenecks). So I guess poor choice of cat for your example.

Untrained animals belong in cages under the aircraft, not in the cabin with people. Just because the regulation exists, does not mean I have to be happy about it. This ESA regulation needs to be changed.

ijgordon

Don't forget their anesthesiologist!
Ooh - can we kick off ugly pets?!
Ok, now, to be fair, you aren't highly allergic, so you really don't need to concern yourself (not withstanding you're a FTer and that's just what we do...).
But those who are allergic have rightful concerns IMO.

PaulInTheSky

Completely agree with most of the FTers and Gary here. Pax indicated she's allergic to dogs before takeoff, yet treated like she's the one who made a fuss. If this leads to medical emergency, then it will get even worse.

Definitely feeling bad for the pax and it is mortifying.

moa999

While the usage of ESAs in the US beggars belief, I feel there is more to this story than has been told.

As per the picture upthread - if you are in the seat in front - you have a massive seat between you and the dog.
And why wouldn't you ask nicely to swap with a J seat on the other side of the cabin, or further in front, rather than going all the way to the back in Y.

skylady

If you want to take your pet on vacation, then you have to pay, sorry

PaulInTheSky

Completely agree with most of the FTers and Gary here. Pax indicated she's allergic to dogs before takeoff, yet treated like she's the one who made a fuss. If this leads to medical emergency, then it will get even worse.

Definitely feeling bad for the pax and it is mortifying.

JonNYC

If you read between the lines of Gary's posts on this, you'll find he doesn't have the posture on this that you might think he does.

The complaining passenger was as much of a pain/problem as the owner(s)/dog(s) in question, and, was certainly in a position (due to her employment) to know better than to the make the implied threat that she did. She gambled, she lost. I bet you'll find even she regrets what she did.

^

teddybear99

When I mean trained, they are trained to sit, stay, not jump on people, go to the bathroom outside or at worst on a "pee" pad, not bother other people who may be eating for food, etc...

I am not saying they need to be trained to do a specific task like a service dog does.

bchandler02

Sorry, but no. Dogs < Humans, every time. No human should have to make an exception to their plans because someone wants to bring their dog, and quite frankly you thinking that the dog has more of a right to be there than a human is concerning. And what about when it isn't a dog, but some other animal?

JDiver

The original issue has been well wrung out, and the thread has settled into the off topic, it-AA-specific and OMNI. I'm no anaesthesiologist, but I'm putting this thread to sleep.

If you wish to continue debating emotional support, service and in-cabin animals vs. humans, please continue in existing OMNI threads.

/Moderator