Only dogs and miniature horses can be Service Animals under the ADA. Those animals are allowed almost everywhere with the person they SERVE- airlines, restaurants, grocery stores, schools, offices, etc.
Any person can ask for an emotional support animal and a federal law allows them in permanent housing (not temporary housing like a hotel) and on public transportation, like air travel or bus travel. The types of animal can be restricted by the airlines (as we’ve seen peacocks, rodents, fish, snakes prevented from boarding) and in some cases by landlords. ESA are NOT allowed into restaurants, stores, etc. by any federal law. Some store owners allow, some state laws (Florida) prohibit into some businesses.
A friend is training a service animal. Most businesses allow her to bring the dog in, but California Pizza Kitchen was correct, by law, in keeping the animal out. For a service dog to be granted auto admission, it has to be with the person it is serving. A trainer is NOT a person with a disability. It’s not the animal that has the right to eat at CPK, it’s the person with a disability who has a right to bring her service dog into the restaurant.
A local man with a severe spinal injury has a helper capuchin monkey. The monkey helps with tasks the man can’t do independently like picking up a dropped phone, turning a doorknob, turning on lights, or opening a soda bottle. The organization that trains them (Helping Hands) does not allow recipients to bring the monkeys to public places. I believe Helping Hands is the only organization in the world that trains helper monkeys.
I have no problems with service or support animals that are not a danger to others. Sadly, clearly, some are. I think they should be muzzled if capable of biting.
Can you imagine getting seated next to a horse? First of all I’d be sneezing half to death, but I’m actually afraid of horses. I have a feeling I’m the one who would be out of luck.
For those of you that do not like seeing ESAs on flights, you might be interested in making comments to the DOT in the link below. It seems they are reconsidering the policy.
Thanks for the link @yearstogo . We just got back from a flight from Phonix to San Jose and there were 2 LARGE dogs who got on together. They were probably 50-60 lbs. They were behind us a long way so we didn’t see how they behaved but they were WAY too big to sit in front of the seat and I doubt if they bought them their own seat. Plus… no way they behaved like support animals on the way in. American Airlines. They would have been in the way in an accident. That big an animal should have been driven, not flown.
How do support animals behave? Are you confusing service animals with emotional support animals? Service animals preform a specific task for the person such as leading, fetching dropped objects, alerting for a medical condition. All emotional support animals have to do is be there.
Finally! Department of Transportation is seeking public comment to change the rules about animals on planes! See the link and consider posting comments. Things are quite out of hand presently and I’m glad airlines can adopt more stringent rules and regs!
I’ve heard more and more folks casually mention in conversation how easy it is to get dogs to be ESA designated so you can fly with them. The dogs are on so many flights! It’s bad for folks with allergies and I don’t understand why the proposed new rules will allow people to fly with up to 2 service animals apiece. Maybe trainers may need two but ordinary folks only have one.
A woman behind me on my last flight had an emotional support cat. H is highly allergic. He sneezed the whole flight. Thankfully his asthma didn’t start. The lady was bragging to her neighbor about how easy it was to get the ESA designation and how it saves her having to pay. We need to go back to service dogs only!
Actually, we need to do as Dept of Trans Is finally proposing—no ESAs and only certified trained Service Animals, restricted in type. If this passes, airlines will have more authority to pass and enforce more stringent rules.
I never had a pet growing up and am afraid of dogs. Over the years we have had small dogs—kids and husband wanted them. I have gotten comfortable with our dogs, but would be really upset if I had to sit next to a large companion dog. Can someone ask for another seat if he/she doesn’t want to be near a support dog? From what I understand from a friend, who takes her dog as a support animal, you can easily go online and get the necessary paperwork to bring a support animal on a plane.
I wish the laws would become strict. I use to get a few calls a week to,write such letters. I tell people they have to be my patient for a year, and I have to know the animal. I’ve lost patients because of this. When I refused one couple (she was my patient, and barely touched the dog on 4 occasions), the husband got the ESA letter online.
I posted this before. The last person to board a plane just happened to,have the middle seat next to me. That dog had not been washed for ??? I mentioned this to the flight attendant. I took a Benadryl. 20 minutes later, the flight attendant saw how badly I was reacting to that smelly dog. I insisted the woman be moved, but alas, I was the one to be moved.
I drove my dog 1,000 miles to get to the place where I’ve spent the last month but my back has gotten so bad I’m scheduled for surgery as soon as I get home. I have someone to drive the car (uncomfortable for me) but they can’t take the dog. A few people have recommended I get my dog certified as an ESA but it just seems so scummy. I’m torn. A quick plane ride made possible by doing something I consider unethical or a long, difficult drive while maintaining my principles. So far I’m still planing to drive.
There was just a segment about this on the news. They interviewed a college student who also cavalierly. mentioned how many of her friends had gotten fake ESA letters so they could bring their pets to college. Turns my stomach.
Can’t animals still fly in crates but not in the cabin? Our kitty came from Africa, and he was in a crate the whole time…not in the cabin with the passenger who was bringing him.
For regular pets, isn’t this still an option…for a fee.
ETA…when someone buys a seat for a pet, they are actually buying the floor space in front of that seat. Airlines don’t allow animals to sit ON the seats.