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Pigs Might Fly, But They Shouldn’t Do So As Service Animals
Two US airlines, Delta and United, have issued stricter guidelines on what is required before a passenger can bring onboard an animal in an “emotional support” or “therapy” role. (atwonline.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Any animal that cannot regulate it's bowels or be housebroken has no business in the passenger cabin of an airplane. So, to name a few, most rodents, all birds, and some drunken humans.
there is a distinctive difference between a service animal (who are well trained I might add),such as those used by people who are legally blind or have a physical impairment, and those who claim to need an "emotional support" animal..dogs very seldom, if ever,when trained as a service animal,cause any problems to passengers ground crews or flight crews..they are on a leash,have a service vest,sit when told,and in my experience, are seated on the bulkhead at their owners feet for the duration of a flight..i have seen cats brought on in small carriers that will fit under a seat in front of a passenger,but they are not service animals,nor are they allowed to be taken out of the carrier during flight..they must be declared and a fee paid for them..there are animals who are not as calm as trained service dogs,and a pig (even though pigs are actually very smart)might be considered on of those..remember the lady just last week who tried to board with a peacock???I wonder if some travelers are just trying to see how far they can go with the "emotional support" thing...
This is all absolutely correct. I travel with a service animal - a dog trained to monitor my blood glucose and identify an onset of a diabetic seizure. He sits quietly, never barks, mostly ignores everyone else, and is rarely even noticed by anyone. As a resident now primarily in Hawaii, my biggest issue is the neanderthal operation of the Hawaiian Department of Agriculture and their "import" requirements. Granted, Hawaii has NO rabies and is correct in trying to ensure that they don't get it. But their process can only be accessed by mail and cashier's checks instead of via the internet and credit card payments. This makes my business travel even more difficult as they often require 30 days or more to get an arrival permit processed - for a service dog RESIDENT in Hawaii with full rabies testing information on file with them!
As the boomer generation gets older we're going to see more service animals, trained for tasks well beyond guide dogs for the blind. I don't condone abuse, but the system is still fraught with issues for those of us who legitimately need the assistance.
As the boomer generation gets older we're going to see more service animals, trained for tasks well beyond guide dogs for the blind. I don't condone abuse, but the system is still fraught with issues for those of us who legitimately need the assistance.
There appears to be a group of people who, for whatever reason, have declared a 'need' for an emotional support animal and feel entitled to have said support animal accompany them wherever they choose to go regardless of the impact on everybody around them. Whenever the industry tries to draw a line, they are going to paint it over some vociferously offended person's toes.
Which is why the industry needs to look at the law, and take it upon themselves to enforce the law. If the law allows them to ask for paperwork showing that the animal being brought onboard is an ESA, then they need to exercise that right allowed to them by law. The industry in this case is being REACTIVE, not PROACTIVE.
They have now made the announcement, now they need to make and take the stand for it. Should they get sued for it, they can throw the law in the claimant's face and tell them that they are following it. That shuts down any suit they may face.
They have now made the announcement, now they need to make and take the stand for it. Should they get sued for it, they can throw the law in the claimant's face and tell them that they are following it. That shuts down any suit they may face.
Just to lighten up the thread here is the link to the emotional support pig which felt the entire aircraft was the swine lavatory..
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/12/01/emotional-support-pig-ejected-from-airplane-after-defecating/?utm_term=.0c2f41f493c4
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/12/01/emotional-support-pig-ejected-from-airplane-after-defecating/?utm_term=.0c2f41f493c4