While traveling by plane a few months ago, I saw a family with their dog - a standard poodle - in an airport boarding area. The poodle was adorable and well-behaved, and he was wearing a large E.S.A. badge. I got curious and used google to find out that E.S.A. stands for “an emotional-support animal”, and also found this very funny and well-written article. http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/10/20/pets-allowed I have no doubts that some (probably the majority) of E.S.A. pet owners are scamming the system, but do you think that some of them have legitimate reasons to license their pets and bring them everywhere?
I’ve seen so many scam “support” pets in the cabin. Even saw a guy in int’l business class with 2 large dogs obediently sitting on the floor of his layflat bed cubicle.
As long as the dogs are well behaved, I’m good w it. Sure wish some of the human jerks I’ve sat next to were as mellow as the dogs.
I’m OK with this (I am a dog person) and don’t doubt that there are legitimate cases where an emotional support animal is needed. But if not, why would someone want to take a dog everywhere? It not always easy on the dog and it causes a lot of inconvenience. Doesn’t seem to save money.
I am a dog person too, so I certainly don’t mind (as long as dogs are well-behaved). But I know at least one person who has serious dog anxiety (she would not visit us unless the dog is locked in a different room), and I also know several people with serious dog allergies (one of them has asthma attacks provoked by dogs).
I myself am allergic to cats so, even though I like cats (and cats like me 
), I would not like to spend the entire flight next to one, especially if I don’t have any claritin in my purse.
Well, if I qualified and really wanted to go to, say the AKC National Agility Championships, on the other side of the country with my beautiful and talented Sheltie, and I don’t want to fly her in cargo and she’s really too big for the under the seat thing – not that I want to take her everywhere with me – but this was a big deal.
But honestly – why make a big fuss about representing her as an emotional support animal? If the dog is well mannered (perhaps require a CGC – Canine Good Citizen certification) why can’t I just buy a seat for her?
I can totally see why one would want to scam the system to bring a dog on the same flight in the same cabin (not saying this is right or legal, but totally understandable). My dog passed away 6 months ago (and we are still grieving, but this is a different story), but for many years we drove him cross-country to our vacation place because I would never fly him crated in a luggage compartment. Bringing him on a flight with us free of charge would certainly make our life much easier.
@cnp55 Are you saying it is possible to buy a seat in the cabin for your pet on a commercial flight? I did not know that.
I don’t think she’s saying that, mycup. As far as I know, dogs must either fit under the seat or fly in cargo. She probably means “why not” as in why don’t the airlines allow it.
mycupoftea, so sorry about the loss of your four legged family member. I don’t mind well-behaved pets on the plane, because the alternative - travel in a crate as a piece of luggage or being kenneled - can be traumatic for the animal. However, I do mind people bringing their shedding, scratching, yuppy dogs to stores and to restaurants with them - the alternative (pet staying home) is pretty decent. The lady who shopped all over downtown Nordstrom with her pocket pet in tow, then went to the cafe, ordered some food and put the plate on the floor for her dog to enjoy - yuck.
Thank you, Bunsen, I am with you. Actually, I believe that the article I quoted mentions that E.S.A. pet owners are only legally entitled to have their pets on commercial flights and in animal-unfriendly apartment buildings. Bringing their pets everywhere seems completely unnecessary, irrational and disrespectful to others. It also makes the owners look… well you know what.
Interestingly, in a small Colorado town (which I now consider my second home), owners’ dogs great customers at the door of almost every small store or other business establishments (except restaurants), and no one seems to mind. But they call it Dogtwon USA for a reason
Dog lover/pet lover here, but I HATE HATE HATE the people that scam this. It is rampant here in the Bay Area. Cannot tell you the last time I was in a restaurant that didn’t have a dog with the vest. The last one was sitting on the seat in the booth behind us, slobbing, stinking and in no way was a “service” dog. I was very annoyed, especially since I had watched Dog Mama put the service vest on Fido right before they walked in the restaurant. But the manager said by law he can’t ask them to leave because it’s a “service” dog. Can’t the dog at least remain on the floor?
Try going to Nordstrom’s without seeing a dog…I tripped over the 20’ leash of a “ESA” dog and was yelled at by owner. Also very annoying when dogs are roaming in dressing room. I kid you not! My visiting Mother almost had a heart attack.
And the most disgusting thing to me is when dogs are in the grocery stores! Really? Do dogs have to go everywhere people do? I swear the only place I haven’t seen a dog is in church…and that may be because I haven’t been very stellar on attendance…
I wish there was a way to clamp down on the ESA scamming, but nobody wants to appear unfriendly to animals and “fragile” people. I feel for those with legitimate needs for service dogs and don’t have a problem with them. But the chihuahua, the lhasa apso or the St. Bernard with the ESA vest purchased online for $20 are not true “service” animals IMHO.
Several families brought little yippy dogs to D’s graduation. These were in no way service dogs for the blind or anything similar. One began nipping at my mom’s ankles. She should had squished it!
No I am NOT saying that. My dog was qualified for Nationals and I did not go because it was too far to drive and I don’t want to put her in cargo. I have legitimate health reasons for not flying her cargo and if it had been an option to fly in the cabin without scamming the system we could have gone.
Another perspective here- I am frequently asked to sign papers for the emotional support issue. I have never signed them- yes they go elsewhere. I feel that I cannot say that said dog/cat/who knows what other animal? is not going to bite someone. Yes it can be other animals. Recently I had a disruptive scene in the office when I refused and the dog was really unruly in addition. So a few weeks later the owner had a problem in public and it was reported in the news that it bit someone.
The majority say that the dog is comforting to them- who 's pet isn’t? and mainly they do not want to pay the pet deposit on their apartment or they want to have dogs in an apartment that does not allow them.
OTH I do not see any reason to refuse the blind/deaf/medical dogs as they are trained and needed. But that is not my area.
Yup there are many small towns here that welcome pets in the restaurants and have water for them. I also saw this in europe.
D has a friend who is blind and has a trained dog . I watched his college graduation online and it was one of the most touching I have seen. The dog got a college degree- It was so cute!
@gosmom I had no idea that ESA dogs are so widespread at certain areas - I never witnessed this on the East Coast (though I am not much of a shopper). I can totally see how in certain areas this problem escalates once other pet owners witness and follow this pattern. No wonder that so many say there is a need for firm regulations.
And I think rockymtnhigh makes a very good point - every dog is comforting to the owners, so where to draw a line? It would be nice though to be able to buy a cabin seat for a pet, ESA or not.
I know someone who wanted to bring her dog on the plane with her. She has mild, well-controlled asthma, so for $100+ she got an MD to certify her dog was a service animal and bought a vest for it. She ultimately decided to leave the dog with her dad as she is now in a grad program, doing research and rarely home.
The owner was was sheepish in explaining how she was able to get her dog to fly with her. As the owner pointed out, what she did WAS legal and she was able to be sure her dog was ok during the flights. At least her dog is very well-behaved and well groomed. We were surprised and disappointed to hear how easy it was to get a certification and vest.
Some of us (including my D and many others) have allergies to dogs, cats, and dander on many animals. Having increasing numbers of them everywhere increases the likelihood of her having an allergy attack.
More evidence of the “I’m Special” mentality that drives me nuts. Sheesh. 80% of people’s dogs aren’t as well trained as their owners think they are. I’ve been to too many events where dogs have jumped on me, slobbered on me, barked, two or more dogs mixing it up, etc. It’s not relaxing. Add in the fact many folks have allergies. I’d prefer people kept their pets at home more. Why inconvenience others for the benefit of one person?
Maybe I should get a E.S.A. chicken or pig to accompany me wherever I go. 
@HImom I am also concerned for people with allergies, especially if their condition may escalate to life-threatening. Once I was on a flight where it was announced that no one can have any peanut snacks - there was a child who was so sensitive that even unwrapping (!) a snack could be life-threatening. This must be so scary for the parents - how can they be sure that every passenger would obey this rule? The situation with pets could be very similar…
This reminds me of the people who would rent a wheelchair so their family could go to the head of the lines at Disneyland.
My husband was on a coast to coast flight in business class and there was a movie star on board with her not small dog. (It is actually her movie star boyfriend’s dog. ) I guess if you are famous you can bring a dog on board??