I know I sound like a broken record sometimes, but it seems like I cannot escape a trip without encountering a fake service animal, this time a barking dog on a United Airlines redeye flight.
A Barking “Service Dog” On United Airlines Interrupts My Redeye Slumber…
I was flying from Los Angeles to Chicago on a 777-200 redeye, a flight that had lie-flat seating which makes all the difference in the world even for a short four-hour overnight flight. I settled into my seat and noticed a man with a dog boarded. The United “high density” 777 has alternating seating in business class with some rows facing forward and others facing backwards. Thus, I did not ascertain whether he was in business class or perhaps in the first row of economy class.
As we neared Chicago, while everyone was still sleeping, the dog began barking.
Not just a yip but a sustained volley of barks before the owner calmed the hound down.
United does not even allow a pet dog in business class if you pay for it on this plane, since these narrow eight-across seat do not allow for underseat storage, so at least I can understand why this guy faked if it he wanted to fly in business class and bring his dog along.
But no one confronted this guy. Should not a genuine service dog have been trained not to bark? If service dogs bark too (just like they get sick too and have accidents too, according to some folks), then maybe they should not be allowed onboard? Maybe, just maybe, we require more documentation and certified licensees that are harder to fake than a vest purchased on Amazon?
I realize I’m extremely jaded when it comes to service animals and that these animals seem essential to some people, but the pendulum has swung far too far in the direction of leniency.
But here it was not a baby that was crying…it was a dog barking and unlike a helpless baby, dogs do not require care and attention in the same way. And they’re not human!
After we stepped off, the dog and his human stopped in the gate area to eat. It was a beautiful collie, by the way. The dog barked again…
Dear folks, please leave your pets at home. You’re about to ruin it for those who really need service dogs. Service animals do not bark.
Is it time to crackdown on service animals by requiring a lot more certification and paperwork?
Oh no!! A classic-Matt-ism! Dogs on planes ruinin’ things… *smh*
I’ve had it with these muthaf****in’ dogs on this muthaf****in plane!!
You are massively upset about this but what the Israelites did in Gaza was not genocide.
That is the critical thinking one develops from basing their life on a fiction booklet.
Matthew in the last photo the dog wears a muzzle basket. Various reasons for doing this, but I would be less trusting of an animal needing this. You already have good reason for concern.
I worked in public transportation for 20 years as a manager. This is a continuous problem that we had. While the duration is not as long as flights the disruptions were real. We had vicious dogs bite people, soil the interiors of buses. All required removing the bus from service and making people that needed to get to work or Dr appointments late or worse. I see no reason why they can’t be certified and vetted. I watched a lady with a “service dog” let it poop in baggage claim at PHX and then just walk away like nothing happened!
No excuse. Just ban dogs from planes,
Dogs, whether “service” or not, should not be allowed on planes. At least with restaurants I can choose whether I wish to go to a place which allows dogs, but with planes I’m forced to put up with them and their generally over-entitled owners.
This is an LA-specific problem
Liar
The solution is extremely simple: require certification that would include the trainer, training period, and attestation by a licensed veterinarian that animal is a fully trained service animal. This certification must be presented to the airline annually to be included in the person’s file. No reputable vet would risk their license to make a false claim that the dog is a service dog.
Indeed the UK managed to implement a certification process
Service dogs bark. That’s their job. They bark to let their owners know something’s wrong. Low blood sugar, seizure coming on, danger, and many other reasons. To deny people the right to travel because you can’t handle a little barking is a you problem. The world doesn’t revolve around you.
Time to travel by car, Debbie. I’m sure he had a muzzle on because the collie finds it comfortable.
Nor does it revolve around you. If you want to bring an animal onto a plane that you should certify it is trained and that it is what you present it to be for the safety of EVERYONE. It’s not that complicated nor is it asking too much.
I have to let the airline and the US government know that I am flying, and that I am allowed to fly why shouldn’t it be required of the owner of a animal? Why do you feel so entitled?
This whole “service” animal is abused every day. Leave your animals at home or stay home with them.
Petulant and entitled whining.
I cannot agree with you more about the fake service dogs. I cannot have peanuts on a plane but I can have dogs on a plane to which I am deathly allergic.