During my last flight, a woman was in line behind me with a good-sized dog strapped to her front (using a “baby carrier” for dogs). The dog was blind (no eyes at all). She said it was her ESA. I think she was her dog’s ESA. Lol
During flight, she kept that dog strapped to her front. I can’t imagine how uncomfortable that was since this was a good-sized dog…at least twice the size of my 20 lb dog.
I can’t believe that the victim, who looks like a fairly large man, actually squeezed past the dog and owner–who doesn’t look like a small guy either–to take his seat. There simply isn’t enough room. If by some chance he actually did, he must have been crushing the dog. No wonder the dog thought he was a threat!
I would not be so quick to say that this dog ought to be put down. I think it depends on how he behaves in normal circumstances. I’d be much more willing to say that the owner should not be allowed to have dogs.
I read the guy was already in his window seat when the dog owner arrived.
Either way, no one sitting in any seat should have a large unsecured anything on their lap whether it’s human, canine, or inanimate. Why are ESA rules supplanting basic safety rules? Hopefully this case will change things.
There is a current Supreme Court case about service animals in classrooms. Ruling expected the end of this month.
I’m torn on that case. One one hand I see the family’s point. On the other hand the school accommodated her with an aide so her needs were being met.
The owner sits in the window seat, the dog on the floor. No free seat for the dog. I have never seen a dog over 20 pounds, or even 10 pounds, on an owner’s lap. My niece’s 30 pound dog can get pretty far under the seat in front. He’s an Aust. Blue Heeler, so very thin. My niece always takes the window seat and the dog either goes behind her knees, up close to the seat/wall, or under the seat. It is a very nice dog, but it’s still a dog. She definitely does it to avoid paying for him to be shipped. Even her husband thinks she’s wrong to do it, but when they travel she takes the window seat, he takes the middle, and then the dog isn’t next to a stranger.
The dog in the original post was on the floor, and the owner was in the middle seat, so the victim was pinned in to the window seat. If the dog owner had been in the window seat, I picture that the dog would have been separated from the victim by the owner/owners knees. Maybe it wouldn’t have changed the outcome, but I think it would have provided a separation from the dog to stranger.
<<< The school district then refused to allow the dog in school at all, saying that one student was afraid of dogs and others were allergic – even though Wonder is a hypoallergenic breed.>>>
Sounds like this was a true service animal, not an ESA. Should have been allowed. Dog helps her get on a toilet, and she shouldn’t have to let a stranger help her with that.
<<< The school district then refused to allow the dog in school at all, saying that one student was afraid of dogs and others were allergic – even though Wonder is a hypoallergenic breed.>>>
Wonder is a goldendoodle, a mutt not a hypoallergenic breed. This dog was able to help her with several tasks, now they will have to hire an aide.
Of course he didn’t squeeze past them, he couldn’t, who would even try? A larger man trying to get past someone in coach? Even without a dog, people don’t do that.
I am on a NYC-CA flight. I lucked out, no ESA pets and a very small woman next to me. Until this thread, I never thought about having an animal on my flight. I think I would completely freak out if there was an animal I didn’t know next to me on a flight. I personally think it should be disclosed to all parties before boarding. I would definitely pick a different seat.
If I ever see an animal in my row, I will ask to be reseated and NOT enter my row or seat. It is tough enough flying without being subjected to having an animal in my row. If the animal is in a carrier under the seat and remains there the entire time vs sitting on the owner’s lap, those are entirely different circumstances.
H and I are mildly allergic to animals and I suspect my required medical equipment that runs throughout the flight may upset the animal as well.
Yes, me too. I think if I saw one, I wouldn’t enter, and if the person was trying to get in, I’d ask them to move past the row so I can grab my stuff and get out. No problem with a carrier, or a small calm animal for me, but something that causes any alarm…I’m outta there.
I MUST use my medical equipment and carry a Rx for it. I’m sure the constant noise it makes would make any animal with sensitive hearing very uncomfortable, which would be bad for everyone. For humans, it’s tough to hear the noise of the equipment above the engine noise, which is already plenty loud.
By the way, according to my allergist, despite claims to the contrary, there is no such thing as a dog or cat breed that folks are NOT allergic to. Yes, she and I have heard it all but there just isn’t.
There are breeds that are hypoallergenic. Hypoallergenic does not mean free of allergens - it means they are below the threshold that triggers allergic reaction in a majority of allergic people.
“Hypoallergenic” actually means “less likely” to cause an allergic reaction. It is still quite possible.
And I agree with the poster above. Doodles are mutts, plain and simple. They are not a “breed” or a “designer dog” or whatever BS the profiteers who breed them try to sell the public on. (Possible exception of the attempt to create a labradoodle breed in Australia.)
Nothing against mutts. But there are plenty of them available through rescue.
BTW, I read or saw some account that described him as squeezing past the vet and dog. Now I can’t find it. I agree that the idea is far-fetched.
All I can say is that there Re many of us who are allergic to dogs and cats, no matter how hypoallergic folks claim they are.
Press reports are often inaccurate, especially when reporters are trying to be first to print their version.
I have two “hypoallergenic” dogs. I can’t brush either of them without taking allergy medications, but I can be in the same room or hold them without problems. It’s less of a problem when they have been bathed recently.
I’m much more allergic to cats and couldn’t sit next to one on a plane.
I think it’s time to revisit the laws on ESAs, and at least require Canine Good Citizen certification along with the current requirements for dogs that will are legally accommodated in public. Trained service dogs that provide assistance tasks to their owners need to be accommodated, and part of that is keeping the public’s respect for service dogs intact. All the fakes and untrained ESA’s undermine that.
I have a friend with balance issues who has a very large breed service dog. The dog is trained to curl up into a very small space to lie down in public places, and is trained to do various tasks for this person, along with being a certified CGC. Her biggest problem is the dog’s distinctive looks and the constant attention she attracts when she’s out in public. People won’t leave her alone with the questions, requests to pet the working dog, etc.
Though most ESAs and Service Dogs are registered when the tickets are purchased, it is not airline policy to disclose this information with other passengers. As both types of assistance dogs are part of their disabled handler’s treatment plan, disclosing their presence would equate disclosing their handler’s personal health information, which is illegal. You may always ask to switch seats, but keep in mind the dog is on the plane legally and is there to do their job. Being rude or unnecessarily disruptive is not only unkind to the handler and their dog, but could worsen a person’s disability (PTSD and anxiety as some examples) or traumatize their dog and prevent them from doing their job.