Delta bans pitbulls as ESA and proposed solution
Jun 21, 2018, 6:43 pm
#18
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I’m not going to weigh in on this debate, but if you’re against dogs in the cabin, maybe support one group trying to give pets another option.
https://petairways.com/
I’m in no way affiliated with these folks. I just like the idea of a safe way to transport dogs that’s not a commercial passenger airline. They used to operate and are trying to get back up and running.
https://petairways.com/
I’m in no way affiliated with these folks. I just like the idea of a safe way to transport dogs that’s not a commercial passenger airline. They used to operate and are trying to get back up and running.
Jun 21, 2018, 7:03 pm
#19
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What do you all think of the pitbull ban? I personally am against it because I believe all dogs regardless of breed can be trained to be aggressive or docile. I think I have a great solution: ESA owners should be able to choose between one of the two options - getting their dogs actually certified by an accredited dog behaviorist. or two, enforcing a sort of bond on ESA travelers. Perhaps they hold $400 as a license to travel with an ESA ensuring if anything goes wrong, the traveler would be insured to cover all expenses. I also propose a large (say $2,000) deductible if there is ever an incident. If hotels and car rentals can charge large fees should they find evidence of smoke, airlines should be allowed to charge fees if ESA animals have incidents.
Jun 21, 2018, 7:13 pm
#21
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I'm curious if you don't know about it, and AFAIK no announcement, if they actually have been.
Apparently it's national news article. They have.
Reading the policy leads me to think there will be a lawsuit. It bans bull type dogs. This is way to broad, leaves way to much discretion (meaning eventual discrimination) to an employee to make. Despite the mania, bulls are less likely then number of allowed breeds to attack. Any dog of any breed can be made mean. I do believe ESA are abused. However nothing in this change, helps with that.
Apparently it's national news article. They have.
Reading the policy leads me to think there will be a lawsuit. It bans bull type dogs. This is way to broad, leaves way to much discretion (meaning eventual discrimination) to an employee to make. Despite the mania, bulls are less likely then number of allowed breeds to attack. Any dog of any breed can be made mean. I do believe ESA are abused. However nothing in this change, helps with that.
Last edited by flyerCO; Jun 21, 2018 at 7:23 pm
Jun 21, 2018, 7:34 pm
#23
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Well apparently DL did publish this yesterday, surprised I missed the official announcement: https://news.delta.com/delta-updates...ective-july-10
And now the service/support animal page on delta.com bans "bull type dogs". I honestly wouldn't be surprised if this includes bulldogs too. Not because of their aggressiveness, but brachycephalic (short) skulls that cause respiratory issues, especially when under stress.
I would be super-angry if I had to sit next to someone on a plane with a pit bull. I'd be fine with the Pitbull tho
And now the service/support animal page on delta.com bans "bull type dogs". I honestly wouldn't be surprised if this includes bulldogs too. Not because of their aggressiveness, but brachycephalic (short) skulls that cause respiratory issues, especially when under stress.
I would be super-angry if I had to sit next to someone on a plane with a pit bull. I'd be fine with the Pitbull tho
Jun 21, 2018, 7:40 pm
#24
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i completely disagree and applaud the action taken by Delta. Pit bulls are the hardest breed to train. How will we know that the one that comes onboard is trained. As someone who has rescued a pit bull in the past and made a huge effort to retrain it I know it is a crapshoot.
In fact, the entire reason people oppose ESAs altogether is because how poorly trained they are.
Banning pitbulls is mind bogglingly stupid. Banning all ESAs is not. DL screwed the pooch on this one.
Jun 21, 2018, 7:57 pm
#25
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Jun 21, 2018, 8:13 pm
#26
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Dogs are bred for various purposes. That is why bird dogs simply are attuned to birds even if you never took one hunting, rabbit dogs for rabbits, similar for even pigs that root out truffles. One may have to work with them to improve their skills, but you are not starting at ground zero. You finally breed a characteristic into the lineage.
Jun 21, 2018, 9:14 pm
#27
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Reading the policy leads me to think there will be a lawsuit. It bans bull type dogs. This is way to broad, leaves way to much discretion (meaning eventual discrimination) to an employee to make. Despite the mania, bulls are less likely then number of allowed breeds to attack. Any dog of any breed can be made mean. I do believe ESA are abused. However nothing in this change, helps with that.
But they still had to act. Delta is taking way too much grief on dogs-in-the-cabin -- both from their customers and from their employees. They judged it better to be out on a legal limb than waiting for the government to change the rules -- if that ever happens.
This is purely a business decision. Less risk from aggrieved dogs owners than continued claims from injured customers and employees. (There was that recent case of a "sweet" pit -- according to its owner -- that mauled a passenger's face, and Delta cites multiple employee bites by dogs.)
Dogs are not people. Private businesses can "discriminate" if that's what one calls it. I am sure Delta is ready with lots of pit bull incident reports when they get sued.
Last edited by Bowgie; Jun 21, 2018 at 9:49 pm
Jun 21, 2018, 9:29 pm
#28
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I agree sort of. ESA's are abused. Any breed can attack. And Delta will get sued on this.
But they still had to act. Delta is taking way too much grief on dogs-in-the-cabin -- both from their customers and from their employees. They judged it better to be out on a legal limb than waiting for the government to change the rules -- that ever happens.
This is purely a business decision. Less risk from aggrieved dogs owners than continued claims from injured customers and employees. (There was that recent case of a "sweet" pit - according to its owner -- that mauled a passenger's face, and Delta cites multiple dog bites to employees.)
Dogs are dogs; they are not people. Private businesses can "discriminate" if that's what one calls it. I am sure Delta is ready with lots of pit bull incident reports when they get sued.
But they still had to act. Delta is taking way too much grief on dogs-in-the-cabin -- both from their customers and from their employees. They judged it better to be out on a legal limb than waiting for the government to change the rules -- that ever happens.
This is purely a business decision. Less risk from aggrieved dogs owners than continued claims from injured customers and employees. (There was that recent case of a "sweet" pit - according to its owner -- that mauled a passenger's face, and Delta cites multiple dog bites to employees.)
Dogs are dogs; they are not people. Private businesses can "discriminate" if that's what one calls it. I am sure Delta is ready with lots of pit bull incident reports when they get sued.
Jun 21, 2018, 10:04 pm
#29
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Regardless, gate agents are going to make a few decisions that can be judged to be mistakes in hindsight. The payout on such mistakes is probably going to be less than the savings in worker's comp losses and similar claims as a result of fewer large-size in-cabin dogs. That is probably Delta's business case for their decision.
I predict that we will be seeing Flyer Talk posts saying, "Delta wronged me by denying my not-really-a-pit pit." And they will get the usual "It's your own darn fault" response from FT regulars...
Jun 22, 2018, 5:04 am
#30
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