I don’t think it is harder for people with real disabilities. Those with trained service dogs do not have trouble on air planes or restaurants or housing.
My daughter brings her cat back and forth from college on a plane. She signs him up and checks him in, etc. Last time they didn’t charge her for the cat, the time before that they didn’t charge her for checking a suitcase. I think they’re so happy she’s being honest about it. She gives him a sedative, keeps him in his soft sided carrier and most people have no idea he’s on the plane with her.
Thank heavens many airlines are tightening their guidelines of what they will accept as an ESA. No goats, turkeys peacocks, for many these days.
Am at the airport. So far have seen only one dog- and it was small.
Just saw dog #2 (not #2 from a dog… second dog 
)
“keeps him in his soft sided carrier and most people have no idea he’s on the plane with her.”
I can assure you I know. My lungs constrict, my head fills. My eyes water and itch and I get a significant headache. I may not know exactly where it is but I will know there is a cat.
I was in a friends home and asked where the cat was. They assured me they did not have a cat. 15 minutes later the kids all started screaming and chasing a cat through the house yelling “the neighbors cat got in”. You should have seen the stares I got.
Problem is I’m not sure why a cat gets preference over my breathing and being basically miserable.
Based on the stories I’ve heard it sounds like they are kicking someone off a plane if they have allergies rather than turning away the animal. I don’t know the answer.
@bhs1978 - good thing there aren’t any emotional support peanuts. Wonder who would get rebooked if someone had an allergy?
On another note, my husband just took a domestic flight where there were 37 people who had requested a wheelchair. They actually announced that boarding was being delayed because there were 37. That was out of a flight with about 200 passengers. He posited that some were legitimate but for others it was a way for them to ensure they’d get their hand luggage on board, that is that they would be among the first to board so there was no way overhead space would run out by the time they got on.
Could it be a flight associated with a demographic that actually tends to need wheelchairs? E.g. a flight favored by a tour group or cruise travel agent that sells to older people of low physical fitness?
These are called “miracle flights” because far less people wait for a wheelchair when they disembark. If you fly SW, it’s also a way to board first and choose your seat first, as long as you don’t take an exit row seat.
Take a SW flight to Orlando. I counted 25 families ‘needing’ family boarding on my last flight. They are supposed to have children under 5, but many have some whopping big 5 year olds. Also are only supposed to board the immediate family, but SW doesn’t stop the grandparents or adult ‘siblings.’
I was interrupted getting caught up here but not too far back I read a post about requiring proof of vaccinations. I agree wholeheartedly.
The organization I raise service dogs for requires me to have a copy of the puppy’s official vaccination record issued by the organization with me every time I take the puppy out. It includes puppy’s “personal information”, vet contact information, chip information, etc. I also have a copy of the rabies certificate with it.
I keep them in a handy pocket of the bag of puppy supplies in case any one asks to see them.
After any new vaccinations or boosters, I make fresh copies of the official record.
This is how things should be done.
The puppies in our organization are not neutered until they return to the school to go into official training. This is because they need to be evaluated for breeding potential. That part is decided by the geneticist and a trainer.
All working dogs are neutered without exception.
If we have a female puppy in heat, they are taken outside to eliminate, on a leash of course, but that’s about it. They cannot even be left alone in a fenced yard unless the fence is six feet high. So we never have issues with regard to that, except perhaps a little cabin fever for families without fenced yards.
Oh goodness! That squirrel did not get to be a flying squirrel after all. 
No way I would want any rodent on a plane.
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/flight-delayed-after-woman-brings-squirrel-on-plane/
Here is a link with the video showing the lady with her squirrel being rolled away by the police:
The other passengers were pretty calm, they were rather amused by this situation! No kidding.
perhaps some passengers were amused, but what is the cost of the delay? Two hours? Did folks miss their connections? Did the crew? What about where the plane was next going? What was their delay?
Delays potentially hundreds more for selfishness. Frontier should sue the passenger (in small claims?).
Small claims are just that - $4-5k damages. Of course it cost significantly more than that to delay the plane, but good for the airline to stand its ground. It sends a good message to anyone trying to sneak an emotional support boa or turkey on a plane… not all of those are flying animals. But as far as the other passengers’ attitude goes, it would not have helped with the situation to get angry, scream, and behaving erratically. I applaud them for staying calm and busy with their social media.
The delay could have been avoided if she had not been allowed on the plane with the squirrel in the first place. Did the airline not notice it until she was on board?
A squirrel is so small no one would notice what is in the bag until the squirrel starts scratching around or gets out. My guess the woman took the squirrel out or refused to place the bag in the overhead bin when directed to do so and then the squirrel was outed.
I would be more sympathetic if people would call their “emotional support animals” by their proper name. Pets.
@BunsenBurner
Do not place animals in the overhead bin. There is no air circulation.
@partyof5 , a better option would be to require people bringing ESAs to purchase expensive insurance policies.