Atlanta Journal Constitution: DOT disallows Delta ban on pit bulls as service animals
Aug 11, 2019, 12:08 pm
#46
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 2,881
I always thought the ban on snub nosed breeds (i.e. pitbulls) was due to the respiratory issues caused by their differently-shaped facial bone structure that is compounded by the pressurization of an aircraft cabin. Complications breathing can be dangerous to these dogs. Until I see any statistics (not anecdotes) that say these breeds are more/less/the same amount likely to attack a human unprovoked, I think we're having the wrong discussion.
Some light reading:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bulld...isks_n_1003495
https://www.politifact.com/georgia/s...ve-other-dogs/
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2e5w4h
Some light reading:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bulld...isks_n_1003495
https://www.politifact.com/georgia/s...ve-other-dogs/
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2e5w4h
Aug 11, 2019, 12:27 pm
#47
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Additionally, we are do not accept pit bull type dogs as service or support animals.
Aug 11, 2019, 12:50 pm
#48
Join Date: May 2015
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That specific article, yes, but there is a ban on cabin snub-nosed dogs as well that came later.
source: https://www.delta.com/us/en/accessib...ervice-animals
source: https://www.delta.com/us/en/accessib...ervice-animals
Aug 11, 2019, 5:05 pm
#49
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I still have yet to see actual evidence that pugs/snub-nosed/whatever you want to call them actually are more aggressive than other breeds.
Aug 12, 2019, 11:39 am
#50
Join Date: Oct 2016
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I'm visualizing an airline-only response (as opposed to State licensing) that involves on-site behavior testing and adds inconvenience to the mix. Someone, perhaps even a trained volunteer, takes your service animal to the pet area and runs it through a set of behavior tests - while you wait. (Maybe not the pet area but someplace land-side before you go through security.) An assessment protocol would need to be designed for various animals - dogs, cats, ferrets, peacocks, miniature horses etc. Your animal only needs to complete the assessment once, but all animals are required to be chipped so that you can't substitute a different animal. You could do the assessment on a different day from your flight (but, like Global Entry, it might take awhile to get an appointment.) There would be a fee for the assessment (after all, responsible animal ownership is expensive.) Volunteer evaluators might be possible because lots of people like to work with animals; they could be recruited from local animal shelters. However, it would take some expensive animal behavior consultants to design the tests and train the volunteers. Gradually a system develops that's trustworthy (as opposed to mail-order "Emotional Service Animal" certifications. I'm even wondering if an animal's fitness score could be stored on its chip and used in different contexts. Wondering if ADA laws could be modified to address these issues.
Aug 12, 2019, 1:13 pm
#51
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I'm visualizing an airline-only response (as opposed to State licensing) that involves on-site behavior testing and adds inconvenience to the mix. Someone, perhaps even a trained volunteer, takes your service animal to the pet area and runs it through a set of behavior tests - while you wait. (Maybe not the pet area but someplace land-side before you go through security.) An assessment protocol would need to be designed for various animals - dogs, cats, ferrets, peacocks, miniature horses etc. Your animal only needs to complete the assessment once, but all animals are required to be chipped so that you can't substitute a different animal. You could do the assessment on a different day from your flight (but, like Global Entry, it might take awhile to get an appointment.) There would be a fee for the assessment (after all, responsible animal ownership is expensive.) Volunteer evaluators might be possible because lots of people like to work with animals; they could be recruited from local animal shelters. However, it would take some expensive animal behavior consultants to design the tests and train the volunteers. Gradually a system develops that's trustworthy (as opposed to mail-order "Emotional Service Animal" certifications. I'm even wondering if an animal's fitness score could be stored on its chip and used in different contexts. Wondering if ADA laws could be modified to address these issues.
Aug 12, 2019, 1:55 pm
#52
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 3,097
I'm visualizing an airline-only response (as opposed to State licensing) that involves on-site behavior testing and adds inconvenience to the mix. Someone, perhaps even a trained volunteer, takes your service animal to the pet area and runs it through a set of behavior tests - while you wait. (Maybe not the pet area but someplace land-side before you go through security.) An assessment protocol would need to be designed for various animals - dogs, cats, ferrets, peacocks, miniature horses etc. Your animal only needs to complete the assessment once, but all animals are required to be chipped so that you can't substitute a different animal. You could do the assessment on a different day from your flight (but, like Global Entry, it might take awhile to get an appointment.) There would be a fee for the assessment (after all, responsible animal ownership is expensive.) Volunteer evaluators might be possible because lots of people like to work with animals; they could be recruited from local animal shelters. However, it would take some expensive animal behavior consultants to design the tests and train the volunteers. Gradually a system develops that's trustworthy (as opposed to mail-order "Emotional Service Animal" certifications. I'm even wondering if an animal's fitness score could be stored on its chip and used in different contexts. Wondering if ADA laws could be modified to address these issues.
Aug 12, 2019, 7:01 pm
#53
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Just because people "like to work with animals" doesn't mean they'll work for free. I'm sure my vet loves working with animals but she sure as heck isn't waving off my bills.
The is the same fallacy as telling graphic designers to do something for free because it "adds to their portfolio".
The is the same fallacy as telling graphic designers to do something for free because it "adds to their portfolio".
Aug 12, 2019, 7:22 pm
#54
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Just because people "like to work with animals" doesn't mean they'll work for free. I'm sure my vet loves working with animals but she sure as heck isn't waving off my bills.
The is the same fallacy as telling graphic designers to do something for free because it "adds to their portfolio".
The is the same fallacy as telling graphic designers to do something for free because it "adds to their portfolio".
Aug 12, 2019, 8:00 pm
#55
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Aug 12, 2019, 8:06 pm
#56
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Aug 13, 2019, 6:34 pm
#57
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Also complicating those statistics - "pit bull" isn't an actual breed so this bucket of stats casts a wider net than say, bites attributed to golden retrievers. a pit bull may be a rottweiler crossed with a poodle, staffordshire crossed with a labrador, bulldog crossed with jack russell etc etc etc as long as the dog has outward characteristics like big head/chest etc that classify it as a 'pit type breed'
Aug 13, 2019, 7:01 pm
#58
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Also complicating those statistics - "pit bull" isn't an actual breed so this bucket of stats casts a wider net than say, bites attributed to golden retrievers. a pit bull may be a rottweiler crossed with a poodle, staffordshire crossed with a labrador, bulldog crossed with jack russell etc etc etc as long as the dog has outward characteristics like big head/chest etc that classify it as a 'pit type breed'
Some of those would be labeled a pit bull or a pit bull mix to the uninformed.
Aug 14, 2019, 9:03 am
#59
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