I was sitting the in the Airspace Lounge at JFK recently when all of a sudden a dog ran up to me and started barking. Oh…another emotional support pet.
Let’s start with this. Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are protected by law. No one disputes that.
We can thank the Air Carrier Access Act. If you want to review the law, you can do so here.
The Act defines a service animal as any animal–
that is individually trained or able to provide assistance to a qualified person with a disability; or any animal shown by documentation to be necessary for the emotional well-being of a passenger.
How should these animals behave?
All service animals must be trained to behave appropriately in a public setting.
Must U.S. carriers transport any animals deemed “emotional service” animals?
U.S. carriers are required to transport all service animals except certain unusual animals (e.g., snakes, other reptiles, ferrets, rodents, and spiders). Foreign air carriers are not required to transport service animals other than dogs.
What documentation is required for the animal?
Carriers may require documentation that the animal will not need to relieve itself during the expected duration of the flight or that the animal can relieve itself in a way that does not create a health or sanitation issue on the flight.
What documentation is required for the traveler?
If a passenger seeks to travel with an animal that is used as an emotional support or psychiatric service animal, you are not required to accept the animal for transportation in the cabin unless the passenger provides you current documentation (i.e., no older than one year from the date of the passenger’s scheduled initial flight) on the letterhead of a licensed mental health professional (e.g., psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, including a medical doctor specifically treating the passenger’s mental or emotional disability) stating the following:
(1) The passenger has a mental or emotional disability recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fourth Edition (DSM IV);
(2) The passenger needs the emotional support or psychiatric service animal as an accommodation for air travel and/or for activity at the passenger’s destination;
(3) The individual providing the assessment is a licensed mental health professional, and the passenger is under his or her professional care; and
(4) The date and type of the mental health professional’s license and the state or other jurisdiction in which it was issued.
Do you see the problem?
Google “emotional support letter” and you’ll find page after page of offers to provide you a doctor-signed letter. Emotional support pets may be legitimate in some cases, but increasingly serve as a scam to avoid pet fees.
And I’m sick of it. I’m sick of dogs coming up and sniffing me in airport lounges and pretentious prima donnas who are too cheap to pay the pet fee.
My Solution: Travel Once with a Pet, Always With a Pet!
My solution is not perfect, but I think it would put a stop to many of the people who abuse the system.
If you travel with an emotional support animal, airlines should mark that clearly in your profile. Thus, every time you travel, you should be expected to have your emotional support animal with you. If you can make it on most flights fine, why not all flights?
Passengers who only need emotional support on rare occasions–like on vacation–should be asked for an explanation.
Perhaps that is more trouble than it is worth, but if I get another dog that comes running up to me…
(thanks to Flyertalk member surram for sharing these with me)
CONCLUSION
This issue bothers me partly because I don’t like dogs. I’ll admit that. But I don’t think I’m just imagining abuse. On the contrary, I think airlines should be more strict about what it means to “behave appropriately in a public setting” and start removing dogs that cannot sit quietly for long periods of time.
Given that the airlines are trying to wring every last cent out of passengers in ancillary revenue, it’s surprising they haven’t pushed harder to have the law amended so these cheapskates can’t avoid paying the pet fees. I also get infuriated when some jerk lets it’s dog run around–especially at an airport. And the inevitable response of “he’s really friendly, don’t worry” really sends me off the edge. Ugh, sorry, rant over.
As a man who has a fully credentialed Service Dog, a loyal and devoted animal that has been trained to handle and assist with my disabiluty–after spending thousands of dollars training her, I am probably more upset than you or most people who are crying about the abuse of these emotional support dogs. I am sick and tired of being one of the few who played by the rules and got my dog certified honestly. Much time, effort and money went into it. Everytime I go sonewhere normal dogs are not allowed–I see these fake dogs too. Nobody seems to bother them. They seem to have no problem getting in airlines, restaurants and other places only a service dog should be. But each day I am harrsssed by ignorant, schmucky people who try to indimidate me and bully me around. I have documentation and the required papers, badges and signed evidence to prove my dog is legit. Eevn after showing these idiots my documentstion (which legally I do not have to do) the demented persons are rude and cant accept the fact they are wrong. Why is this? I assume it is because so many idiots abuse the law with their fake emotional support dog claims and often lie. These people need to be fined heavily or face stiff penalties. People…..please listen–do not harrass those of us who are legit and did this the honest way and obeyed the law. We need the service dog for a reason. People seem very jealous when they accost me, berate me and demand I get my dog out of where it doesnt belong, when I prove to them I have a disability and my dog is a real service animal. I will tell each one of you, you have nothinf to be jealous about. I would trade places with you in a heartbeat and prefer to live a ‘normal’ life without need of a service dog.
You are also very mistaken when you say a service dog is the same as an emotional support dog. You should do your research better and get the facts straight. By law emotional support dogs are NOT allowed on airlines unless the specific airline approves such a dog in writing well in advance. Service dogs are different. They are allowed by federal law because they have met minimum training requirements to assist a disabled person. A person has to show evidence and documentation that his dog is actually a real service dog when he buys airline tickets. Emotioal support dogs are not allowed in airports and other public places where dogs are prohibited. If your complaint is against these service dogs which have been trained to assist a person with his disability, be thankful you are not the one having to use such a pet. I dont like strange dogs running up to me either and bothering me. But my God, Im not going to write a column about it, lose sleep over it or cry in my beer about it. Each day is filled with these minor anmoyances. It is called LIFE. Be thankful you only have these minor annoyances to keep you stirred up and milittant. Prepare yourself for the day you may need such an animal or accomodations. Maybe your attitude might be more accepting of others, even those who cant keep a pet from sniffing you. Worry about other things worth worrying about.
A service dog is not the same as an emotional support animal in my book, but is under the relevant statute I cite in this article.
I’m not attacking any guide dog. Trust me.
This federal law outweighs the ESA guidelines cited. Service animals are trained to complete at least 3 tasks that align with the disability of the person utilizing the serbice animal. No (legit) certifications exist to officially make a service animal a service animal. No doxumentation is required and businesses are not allowed to ask what disability the animal assists with- they are only allowed to ask what tasks the animal is trained to perform (and not require you to demonstrate them). The difference between ESAs and service animals is that service animals are covered under federal law, ESAs are not. I travel with my service dog any time I am leasure traveling or traveling with my husband. I do not bring him on work trips because I do not want the stigma of having a service animal to stifle my career potential. He makes my life a million times easier and I would prefer to bring him all the time and into the office, but there are many judgemental people who do not understand how a 9 lb dog qualifies as a service animal. It’s unfortunate that people do not always properly train their dogs before traveling or bringing them into public, it makes things harder for the rest of us, but keep in mind there are some legitimate animals that are well-behaved that may not have the typical look.
As a side note, service animals must be leashed at all times unless jt direcrly interferes with the dogs tasks.
https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm
My animal is an ESA I have paperwork for her. She helps with my disability. However, she is extremely friendly and she does like to visit people and sniff because that’s what most dogs do to get a sense of their surroundings. I know a lot of people do not like that so I keep her under control in certain situations unless it is tolerated. She has never gone on a plane with me but I plan on bringing her in April of 2018. I’m not sure how this is going to go over with passengers but, I can assure you that I will do my best to keep her on my lap during the flight. If you visit your local veterinarian office or perhaps the one that your pet is a patient of. You can request something to relax the animal during the flight so that they are not a bother to others that do not like dogs or are offended by an animal traveling with a person with disabilities. This is what I intend to do when I bring her with me because I don’t want to have to deal with any more than I should in addition to anyone else.
Ruth, you are wrong. Two federal laws address emotional support animals. A summary with citations and links can be found here:
https://www.certapet.com/emotional-support-animal-laws/
You are wrong…ESA’s have the same rights as SA’s. They are covered equally by tge same law!
Ted- you cited a for-profit web page that exists to take advantage of people who think they are getting a real certificate for their dog or for those who want to game the system. I cited the federal government agency website that enforcing the law…
No, TED, that is wrong.
Emotional Support Animals are allowed on flights, just not typically in public places like restaurants and theme parks. The difference between a service dog and an ESA is that a service dog must have specific training and certified where as a support animal does not. However, they are protected as “service animals” in regards to housing and travel.
Alan Meldrum……The writer of this article is not talking about legitimate service dogs…..it’s the scam emotional support dogs. I have a colleague that has a Great Dane. She claims she suffers from agraphobia (not agoraphobia). I think she’s nuts and just does it for attention. She travels and brings that giant dog with her everywhere. Emotional Support Animals are a scam, just like Medical Marijuana, fat people riding scooters and Handicap Parking. By scam I mean it is about 15-20% legit, the rest are all faking it.
Thank you!
I don’t think you are correct, if you read the Air Carrier Access Act it states that airlines are not required to accept emotional service dogs unless the passenger has documentation. If you have documentation, the animal must be allowed on the plane.
there are numerous people who are using this “emotional support” law fraudulently in order to get the animal on the flight whereas a “pet” would not be allowed. Oh by the way, they are not charged money to have the animal on the plane. they can also abuse housing laws and get around no pet policies and don’t have to pay a pet fee or deposit. THAT is absolutely infuriating. That is sickening and I’d bet that people who legit have service animals can’t stand it either. My husbands been through 3 wars, Been hit by IED’s, major ptsd, I’m having my 3rd heart surgery soon as a young person under 40. My kids have been in 3 schools in 2 years. We all have anxiety and yet our dog is in fact a pet. So when a perfectly healthy person skates the law by unethically persuading their doctor to sign a form saying that they “need” their pet to be an emotional support animal, well it really pisses me off.
CW and other ESA haters,
I have an ESA that is a cat. I have been under psychiatric care for years and have the required paperwork for five years strait and from two different therapists. I give my cat a natural sedative to keep him calm during travel and once on the plane he stays under my seat. Once I am seated, I usually fly Southwest airlines which has open seating, I inform every passenger who seeks to sit in my area that there is a cat who is under the seat and let them decide whether or not to sit next to me.
I have a legitimate ESA and am not scamming anyone or any airline, nor am I just being cheap! Please be careful about what you say about ESA’s as mine has saved my life more than once.
Yes, there are abusers of the system out there, but I am sure they are not more than 80% of people with ESA’s, whether they are trying to travel with them or not. Remember, you cannot see whether or not a stranger suffers from a mental disease, so don’t be so quick to judge. And for those that are scamming the system, I want to see them caught more that anybody because they threaten the public perception of those of us who do have legitimate ESA’s.
And to CW, I feel for the challenges your family has survived. I too have PTSD, as well as other mental disorders, but I don’t think most mental health professionals can be persuaded to sign a letter if the patient does not deserve it. If you want to target non legitimate ESA’ letters, I think the websites that offer one time only phone diagnosis for a fee would be a good place to start.
What about those of us who sitting next to an unfamiliar dog will bring about anxiety in us?! I’ve been bitten twice by unfamiliar dogs, once right after being told ‘Oh, he doesn’t bite.’ I have the scar to prove he does! I get that you want your pet to ease your emotional stress – but what about my increased stress at having to sit next to your uncaged dog? I always book early so I can get a window seat – if I raise a fuss so as to not have to sit next to your dog, I risk getting stuck in a middle or aisle seat. You want your rights respected, but don’t seem to care about the rights of others.
Mel H.
Ask to be moved.
I have a service dog. Happens to be a Rottweiler.
And, I agree…the non disabled have rights too.
But,none persons rights do not outweigh another’s.
However that said, I try to be considerate.
My last international flight, they put me next to a Muslim family(dogs are unclean)
I made very very sure that they were comfortable, and offered to move in order to accommodate them.
The father, traveling with his 2 small kids, explained some things to me and was more than happy to share my space!
Could you define “fully credentialed”, since the ACAA DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT, nor does the FHA(fair housing act) or the ADA(Americans with Disabilities Act).
There is no legal requirement or governmental standards for an ESA or a service dog.
I have an emotional support animal but agree that the system needs to be fair and equal for all.
It’s not about pet fees in some cases. At least not in mine. I’d buy a seat or 2 (to have the entire row to ourselves) if I was given the option. My dog is too heavy to fly in cargo, he’s over the limit. So what option do I have when I’m moving to another country?
However, dogs should never be off leash and running up to anyone. They should be tired (I let mine run for at least 6 hours immediately prior to the flight and don’t let them sleep). They also are trained and under my control.
I agree, it’s annoying having to deal with unruly dogs or any dogs, really. They should be on short leash next to their owner.
But I do wish there was an honest option to fly with dogs. Some can’t go in cargo for various reasons and if a person is going somewhere he cant drive, what reasonable option does he have?
Just giving my perspective
Let me understand, are you saying that since your large dog cannot go in cargo, and you cannot pay for an extra seat or two for it, so you feel that your only choice is to game the ESA system so they have to transport your dog – but you are not doing it to avoid the fee, just to be allowed to transport a large dog?
I have flown at least 50 times in Asia and Europe and never did I see an animal on a plane. So it must be an American thing. Jerry Springer generation. Completely brainwashed and degenerated. Anyone who needs an emotional support animal has the mental maturity of a 7 year old and should not be allowed on a plane, own property or operate vehicles.
Chris nails it. This needs to end. NOW. Make these cheapos pay for their pets or just get in the car and drive.
Service dogs under the ADA are only required to perform one task or work. A rivste organization of trainers has devised yheir own criteria (3 tasks) but it has no force of law behind it. There is no certification of service animals under the ADA. Again, a private organization of trainers mmay provide a “certificate” but it is not part of federal law. Carriers may ask for a doctors statement ghat yhe passenger is disabled and that the dog is a service dog or emtional suport dog. The ADA makes no differentiation for service dogs that mitigate symptoms of a physical disability and service dogs that do for a psychiatric disability. Both categories must be trained to perform a task or work. The term “psychiatric service dog” is notcontained in the ADA. There is no reason for this distinction to be made. And it smacks of discrimination.
Amy, since the exact text of the law states “work or perform TASKS” (plural not singular) then at least two tasks are in order to meet that plural definition by necessity. Otherwise, you are right on target unlike most of what has been said here about documents and certifications and the requirements for service dogs when it comes to air flights and what is and is not required for a service dog..kudos
if i remember correctly their supposed to know 3
Amy,
The ADA does not apply to flying.
I wish people could get that through their heads.
I wish people would get this through their head: THERE IS NO DOJ CERTIFICATION REQUIRED, RECOGNIZED, OR AVAILABLE FOR SERVICE ANIMALS AND NO LEGITIMATE CERTIFYING ENTITY. Read the FAQs on the DOJ site — 9 pages/36 questions — covering requirements. One only must train the animal to assist in one disability-related task; anyone can do this, they need not be a professional trainer. (And it’s one task, not three!) Unfortunately, there are online sites selling “certification packets” of certificate, tag, vest, and other paraphernalia. It’s a scam! I do wish the DOJ would go after these people, who are only spreading confusion and misinformation. As for those disabilities requiring more complex training for the animal, they may offer certificates or what-not for the dog, as they probably should, since people generally pay thousands of dollars for such dogs. But that certification is NOT required under the law. I too have a smaller service dog and am sometimes challenged as to her status. Now, I just travel with the FAQs page from DOJ. As for Emotional Support Animals — enough already!! They should be traveling like any other companion animal, i.e., in a carrier under the seat or in cargo, for a reasonable fee. The ESA category has been abused to the point of absurdity and danger to everyone else, particularly those of us who need a true Service Animal.
I agree!
That’s… a surprisingly good (and easy!) idea. Another would be to amend the ACAA to make it stricter – the mental health professional must have spent at least one hour in an in-person individual session and there must be at least x number of hours of training done with both the pet and patient present. Make it enough of a PITA for those who abuse it but still not too difficult for those who need the service.
ESA Service Animal
The law has different requirements for both. Please do not mix the terms without clearly differentiating these different types of animals.
the LT and GT signs didnt capture. I meant to say an ESA is NOT the same as a Service Animal.
Not under the Air Carrier Access Act — they are both considered service animals.
There is a Very CLEAR Difference in The Trained Behavior of an ESA, Service Animal, (Dog or Miniature Horse ONLY), and EVERY OTHER ABC, QRS, WXY Animal Out THERE !
The Only Grey Area in The ACA (Air Carrier Act) is in Fact, Not Grey at All. It is Discolored by The Public willing to CHEAT The System for Their Own Agendad and The Observing Public who Insist on Remaining as Ignorant of All Knowledge of That which They Speak and Get Bent About ! I am of The 1% who is Legitimately in NEED of a Service Dog. I KNOW The ADA/ ACA/ and The FHA Laws because Unfortunately My Life has become Inundated with The Insanity of The “NEED TO KNOW” Information to Arm Myself with Enough to NOT Allow The Constant Attempts of Bullying in The Past, Up To and Including The Present Day !
ESA – SHOULD be The Acronym for EMOTIONAL SERVICE ANIMAL.
Too Often – These FAKERS Twist Whatever They Choose to Save a Dime or Simply Have Their 5 MINUTES of FAME in The Market or Restaurant with FIDO. THEY Have Decided that ESA Stands for EMOTIONAL SERVICE ASSISTANT. This Has Served Their CHEATING in a Few Ways. The Thing Assisting Them No Longer is Required to be an ANIMAL AT ALL … In THEIR FAKE VIEW, It can Now be a Snake, A Fish, A Whale for God’s Sake ! If It Fits into The ESA and In The Airplane ! Moreover, that Airlines BETTER accommodate Their ESA or They Will SUE By Calling The DOJ and Complaining !
I Sometimes Believe there is Just NO WAY around Pieces of HUMAN TRASH out to Do NO GOOD ! They have NOTHING But Time on Their CHEATING Hands to Think of Ways to Cheat, CHEAT and CHEAT MORE !
If ESA animals don’t have to pay then why doesn’t a “person” accompanying someone that needs emotional support have to pay? If they had to pay for these animals there would be less travelling.
Probably because they don’t take up an extra seat, but I like where you are going with this line of thought.
I throw this in just to give more range to the discussion. When you walk into a store and airport on Mall doctor’s office and someone’s dog charges across the room start barking and nipping at my service dog who then backs up tries to move away but knowing that I am not a s stable on my feet as I need to be that to avoid this dog, and to not bark or growl back at this dog who is now threatening me in the my dog view, plus now he is distracted and is unsure if he’s allowed to sit on it. he’s putting me at risk so not only are they annoying but they are also a threat for people who do have Mobility on stability issues, or even other medical issues such as PTSD these dogs they’re not imitation dogs they’re real dogs but they’re not working. If it is the matter of $75 to keep these dogs off of the flight I’d rather pay for my dog and the rest of them take a hike, and I am new to this situation and it will only be deteriorating with my health but that is neither here nor there
I love dogs and even i think it’s gotten ridiculous. What I really want to know though is has anyone dressed their kid up as an animal and tried to get them on as an emotional support animal yet? I would love to see that viral video if and when it happens
Now THAT’S some creative thinking. I feel like that’s something the show “Impractical Jokers” would do.
I love dogs, and I’m just as angry about this as you. The reason is that I would LOVE to bring my dog on trips with me, and as someone who suffers from depression and anxiety, I could wrangle a more legitimate letter declaring my dog an ESA than many of the people who abuse this system. But I don’t, because I recognize it’s a sham. People who use fake ESAs are pretending they’re disabled in order to take advantages of the perks that disabled people get. It’s no different than parking in a disabled parking space with a placard you got when you broke your ankle three years ago or walking around with a cane and sunglasses so people move out of your way on the street. It’s shameful, immoral, entitled behavior, and it drives me absolutely crazy.
It’s not the fees, it is the ridiculous bureaucracy involved with booking space for your non-ESA cabin pet. First, you have to make your reservation, then call to see if there is space available for your cabin pet (on Delta, for example, only two pets in first, and two in economy). If there is space, you then spend 10-15 minutes going through breed, name, wight, size of pet carrier, etc. for each segment of each flight. Then, about a week later, a limited english speaker form some far away land calls you back to tell you your 14L x 12W x 10H carrier wont fit under the seat because the under-seat dimensions are 12L x 14W x 10H (“I’ll just turn the carrier” blows their mind). At the airport, the check-in agent (if they even have your pet reservation) says you can only have one pet per row in first – when it is my wife and I and we each have a paid-for cabin pet. This happens every time. No matter how many times you have traveled with the same pet, with the same carrier, on the same plane.
When you finally make it onboard, the under-seat area is actually taken up by electronic boxes leaving you no room for the cabin pet. For this, I am charged $125 each dog, each way.
Sign up as an “ESA” and you have none of these problems. The airlines have created their own problem.
You got it 100% bbbbbb.
Airlines are gouging our pockets $250 round trip and making it nearly impossible in the process. Then after we’ve jumped through every hoop and spent a ridiculous amount of time and energy fulfilling their requirements, in walks some boob with a drooling English Bulldog who promptly fills the entire legroom area.
It’s maddening.
what about people with pet allergies? Who decides which disability takes priority? Do the airlines clean the carpet in the plane and the seats so that people with allergies aren’t affected after all these animals have contaminated them? The whole idea is gross to me and I would love to know if I can book a space where I can be sure a dog won’t be slobbering into my space. Is there such an option?
This is completely true. They make it quite the extra cost each leg and on top of it then make it ridiculously difficult to “fit” your dog on board, this and that rule about limited numbers and such. They literally MAKE you want to avoid this hassle because they cannot just simplify the process and relax some of the rules, Sure, some make sense – like a specific number of pets ok – but there’s other hassles like the whole will the carrier fit or not? Yes, my little dog would fit in one – not comfortably – but then I’m not allowed to take her out even a second from it in flight. Also some airlines specifically state that your dog must be able to turn around completely within the carrier for example. And remember, they’re charging a pretty penny for all this too. Well. You can see why people choose to skip it all and just take their animals free of these hassles and restrictions. I see both sides of the argument clearly. But it’s unfair to just bash those who do this as “cheap” because it’s not ONLY about the money (necessarily). It’s actually a lot of the other requirements that worry pet owners. They don’t want to be in a situation where they turn up at the airport and the airline decides well, we don’t think your dog can fly with you because x, y and z. Again, I see all sides of the argument but this column is more of a rant than an unbiased look at ALL sides of the issue.
Be that as it may…..so you think that gives you or others cause to harm disabled people that REALLY need the accommodation? So you won’t be inconvenienced? So the next time you encounter a wheelchair in your way I suppose you also have no problem dumping the person on the ground so you can toss the wheelchair out of your way too? This lying is doing harm to disabled PEOPLE is what people like you want to fail to understand. You don’t see each side of the issue at all…..
Most importantly this can be dangerous and impact the use off real service dogs on flights. I was on a flight from to south american and a totally untrained “emotional support animal” tried to attack a seeing eye dog for a blind passenger in the aisle of the plane during boarding.
Great article on the topic here:
https://www.outsideonline.com/2236871/stop-faking-service-dogs
Thank you for this post. I am so tired of the BS too. I once flew on a JetSmarter shuttle flight with a pitbull as an emotional support dog. The pilot almost did not fly because he was told he cannot have an “aggressive breed” on board such a small aircraft with other passengers in such tight quarters. The owner insisted he needed to bring the dog for his emotional well being… the dog jumped around the whole time and got in the way. We were all annoyed. I am pretty tolerant of dogs and have grown up with one my whole life, but as I got older I developed a pretty severe allergy to some breeds and I now breakout in hives/sneeze nonstop on some flights when a dog is near me. I don’t mind legitimate service animals, but the abuse needs to stop! One recent flight had 5 “emotional support” animals on it… come on…
I have been convinced by society that I am the only person on the planet that does not like dogs. Good to know you don’t either Matt.
On the flip side, the airlines could LOWER the exorbitant pet fee for in cabin travel, which requires any dog or cat or bird flown to be in a carrier and fit under the seat in front of you.
I don’t pull this ESA crap, but pay for my dog every time he flies with me. On United, for example, it’s $125 EACH WAY. If your stopover is longer than 4 hours, that’s ANOTHER $125. I usually only travel with Henry once a year for Christmas, and use my Amex Platinum $200 fee credit. It doesn’t cover the cost completely but that’s OK. But why would someone do that when you can BUY your ESA “certificate” for around $189, and it’s good forever—AND allows your pet to travel without a carrier on just a leash? I’d love to have Henry sit on my lap or come out during the flight, but he’s got to stay in his carrier because I didn’t fake a “need.”
The $125 fee is exorbitant and complete profit for the airline. They are doing NOTHING for that money, and no one else’s space is being taken away, since your animal has to fly under your seat. If the charge was a more reasonable $50 (or less) I think a lot fewer people would go through the trouble of paying $200 for letters and patches online. The airlines still have their 3 or 4 per cabin pet limit, so it’s not like suddenly the cabin woukd be filled with animals. And even if it was, they would all be in carriers. The ONLY animal that should be on a leash is a properly trained SERVICE dog, and they are rare. So instead of making up a whole new system, just make the current one more fair. Paying $250 round trip to carry a 13 pound dog from LAX to ORD is a complete rip-off. You are basically paying for another whole coach ticket. That would be great if Henry was getting a seat, but he’s not. If the price was reasonable there wouldn’t be so much abuse.
Could not agree more. It’s a farce and a huge nuisance, totally unique to the USA (no other country allows this nonsense).
I would argue this absurd law has also changed the entire culture around traveling with animals. When did it become essential to bring your pet on holiday? When I was young (1980s not that long ago!) we never considered bringing the family dog on holiday, unless it was somewhere very close we could drive to. Either your pet can survive a week in a kennel/pet “spa”/whatever or you don’t travel to places that require flying. One or the other. It’s not a god-given right to travel everywhere with your pet.
I do like your solution Matthew – to refine it more perhaps have a standardized form for the airlines stating that the flyer will only be traveling with their ESA from now on and cannot travel without it (for emotional support reasons).
I don’t mind dogs (I grew up with a procession of VERY large St. Bernards around the house – yes, the dogs were larger than me by a fair margin), but my wife is deathly afraid of them so I feel your pain. A dog I presume to be an ESA started yapping loudly at her at the PHL Admirals Club. Sorry dog people, but your claiming “he’s really friendly” or “what’s your problem, he won’t hurt you” doesn’t do it for someone afraid of dogs. Now I have to worry every time we’re in a lounge or gate area that someone’s bratty emotional support dog is going to freak her out.
As the handler of a legitimate service dog I wanted to address your wife’s fear.
As a handler if someone can let me know that someone is afraid, I will do my level best to keep my distance as much as possible voluntarily for their comfort and also maintain my dog’s behavior at that distance at an especially formal level to encourage feelings of some kind of ease and safety. I think other legitimate handlers are with me on this- we’d rather know so we can do all we can to minimize such feelings. We don’t want to hurt or disturb others, we just, like everyone else, want to go about our lives as calmly, without incident, and as orderly as possible.
It’s not the fees- it’s the potential risk of trauma or death or loss of your dog if you put them in cargo. I have never flown with my dog but if I had to for whatever reason, I would go the ESA route. I would happily pay for my dog to travel in cabin- buy another seat? Heck, buy two first class seats, sure. But I would not put her in cargo and risk losing her, and I don’t have the option of paying for her in cabin because she is over 20lbs. Sorry but if it’s a choice between annoying others and putting my dog at risk, you’re going to be annoyed. If it helps, I’m sure you annoy others, too.
Dirk, You’re more than annoying people, you are harming and putting at risk disabled people. I get it about the cargo hold….make other legal arrangements, drive…whatever but don’t put disabled people at risk. You dont live in a bubble and what you do DOES affect other people..
$125 each way is ridiculous already – but I wish it was that cheap for me. I have a German Shepherd and at times it would cost more to fly her on my yearly trip home than it would for my own ticket. Considering how many pets are mishandled and/or die while flying in the cargo hold it doesn’t surprise me that so many people abuse the ESA system.
A reasonable price and a higher standard of care would fix the issue – especially considering the fact that even if you’re not “cheap” (must be nice to have hundreds of dollars you can spend on anything at any moment), and even if you want to fly your animal in the cargo area, the airlines don’t ticket for those pets. That means you can alert the airline that you’ll be flying with a pet, confirm with different employees that the plane used for your exact flight will fit your dog’s crate, bring the dog and crate in two days in advance to have everything checked out and confirmed that it’s proper for travel, have your vet paperwork in order, be within the proper temperatures at all times during your flight, and still arrive on the day of your flight to be told that the gate attendant doesn’t want (that was the exact reason) to load your animal so it can’t fly. This is what happened to me. Since I was in a new town I had no one who could watch my pet for me on such short notice and wound up having to drive across the country to make it home for my nephew’s first Christmas. The airline also refused to refund any portion of my ticket because they insisted I could have flown, and my credit card company agreed. So I lost all that money and time when, if she had just been listed as an ESA, my dog would have been on the flight with no issue. Point fingers at pet owners all you want, but I’d be willing to bet I’m not the only person who has had this issue and I can’t blame anyone else if they decide to go the easier route for future flights.
I spend two days (each way) driving from California to Ohio to keep my dog with me for the holidays. It takes up most of my PTO but it’s more comfortable for my pet and I don’t have to deal with the judgemental looks and eyerolls that it seems most of the responders and the author give to anyone they’ve decided, with no knowledge of that person’s medical history, doesn’t need an ESA.
You want to blame someone because you’re not a dog person and, God forbid, there are a couple on your plane or in a large airport? Fine. Blame the airlines. If the airlines had a better system then there would be no need for any deception.
THANK YOU. If a dog is well-trained, then it is not harming anyone or putting disabled people at risk. I fly all the time and have never once seen a misbehaved ESA. I’m certainly not going to put my pet at risk because there are people out there that hate dogs. My dog sits quietly in my lap and if that bothers you, YOU can drive to your destination.
Also, clearly all these dog-hating responders are rich – calling people cheap because they can’t afford an extra $250 every time they fly? Sorry but that is a lot of money to normal people.
For an Emotional Support dog there is absolutely no training required. And that’s sad. Yet a Service Dog MUST be trained.
Also, the online vests are a scam.
I disagree. In order to register your dog in the national registry, the animal has to go through classes. If the animal can’t pass then you can’t register it for an emotional support dog. Most people don’t take the time to do research and I agree people are abusing the system. But there are some of us, that don’t. We do everything we can to do what it is right and those people abusing it are ruining it for those of us that do need help. With that said, the online vets shouldn’t have the capability to sign off on paperwork. If you are serious about one, you go to classes and make sure your animal does what the law states.
Sorry , my aggressive breed mix pit curls up on a 12×12 mat and sleeps the whole flight,
Or till someone let’s thier small child climb over to see the “pretty dog being so good” I tend to small and answer back “yes , she is being good, can YOU be this good?”
I know I’m from a different generation I raise my children I have raised a couple of my grandchildren and many other children’s for other parents do not let your children run up and pet these dogs they are working, just like you were working at home on your computer, they are working.!
there is no certification the owner is allowed to train their service dog and emotion support dogs should have basic obedience but i don’t think it’s required as long as their behaved
Thank you! As a service dog handler, ESA abuse is a HUGE problem. My service dog has been attacked on more than one occasion by ESAs. There needs to be a stricter law in place, but before that can happen, airlines need to follow the guidelines already laid out for them. They need to stop accepting fake certificates and IDs and really buckle down on only accepting legitimate letters from mental health professionals. ESAs aren’t allowed in public like true service dogs- why are airlines any different? My service dog has gone through thousands of hours of training to not only assist me, but to be able to handle the stress of being in public. There aren’t many places as stressful as an airport. ESAs have a purpose, but they belong at home.
A service animal and an emotional support animal are different. A service animal needs training to provide a service. An emotional support animal is a pet that helps the owner feel less anxious. No profesional training is required.
You are wrong on many things you stated. The main thing is you don’t like dogs as you stated. Everyone doesn’t like something that doesn’t mean something is being taken advantage of. If you would wear a sign staring you do not like dogs I’m sure your problem of being greeted at an airport would be taken care of immediately, problem solved for all.
I’m glad you get it. Thank you.im a combat veteran, who fought for these rights. If people haven’t gonev through what I’ve gone thru and can smugly say you don’t need an esa, it’s a scam! You people are for the most part petty and wouldn’t know how to be a real loving human if their lives depended on it. And those of you who don’t need an esa, I’m happy that you’re “normal”, but if you want to run your jaws over something you have no idea about, just Mind your own business.
I agree totally about the cost and hoops you jump through. I moved 2 dogs from Denver to Kailua-Kona, HI. Had to buy specific carriers, paid over $200 per dog on United and $350 to a vet to meet us once we landed to clear the dogs (less than a 5 minute evaluation). Let’s not forget paying the State of Hawaii a big fee per dog to even start process. Between blood work and fee I spent $800+ just to get thier application accepted. All this and you have a counter agent delaying the check-in because they heard Hawaii had an embargo due to hot weather (that’s Arizona numbskull!) And we miss flight and have to go the next day.
All this and people think they can waltz on to plane and avoid fees. Not while I’m around.
I was booked on a flight from Kona to mainland and specifically booked a bulkhead window seat. I get a call from Delta saying a support animal and owner need my seat per federal regulations and would I volunteer my seat. I agree and I get onto plane on day of departure and woman sitting in my former seat and no dog. I asked her where was the dog. “I decided to not bring it”. I just about lost it.
I have an emotional support dog for extreme anxiety. I keep him contained in his carrier for the duration of my journey, occasionally opening it to pet him. It is frustrating to see people abuse the privilege of having such an animal. It makes us all look bad. I’m thankful I’m able to bring my pet with me but I do feel badly for those who have encountered irresponsible pet owners.
Um, I have anxiety, and I function just fine WITHOUT a “emotional support animal”. The human race has lasted for thousands of years; do you think people in 1500’s England were prancing around with their animals saying “pardon me, but this animal helps me”? Please. You’re probably some fat, uneducated miscreant who gets off on the attention you and your “snookums”, oops, I mean your “service animal” gets. Get a life and get over yourself.
Being a person who has en emoticon support dog, I’ve seen the abuse of the title. I have worked very hard to train my Beau on my own, and he behaves very well around people and other animals. That being said, I’ve looked for and affordable and legal EMOTIONAL SUPPORT DOG TRAINING PROGRAM, and found nothing but expensive FAKE letters and ID BADGES! Right now I’m attempting to find the backing to get trained and certified in basic obedience and behavior, so that I can open a real and affordable place for people to go that are interested in having a certified certificate that is legal and binding to show Airlines, whereever that they are REALLY an Emotional Support Dog. It’s all in my head right now, so I appolagize if it’s not all lined out correctly. I just wanted you all to hear from someone who is really trying to get my dog to be a LEGAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FOG..Any ideas would be great! Thank you Beau and Diane
That’s a really great idea!! I think there should be at least some basic training for ESA’s that is affordable. I would really like to do something like that, when I get my ESA. But I am planning on getting a cat, not a dog. Don’t know how this would work with other animals besides dogs. In my comment, I said it should be mandatory that your letter come from a doctor, psychiatrist or therapist u regularly see. Not from online, where it is only a scam. And the person should also have a history of a disability in their medical records, unless it had just happened or started. Think it would weed alot of the fakes out. U would have to be seriously not right to fake a disability in any sense.
Diane, there is no such thing as an emotional support dog training program…want to know why? Because they are called obedience classes. Get the dog into an obedience class and have the trainer evaluate if the dog is of appropriate base temperament to BE in a place like an airport or plane (some aren’t).
What makes an ESA legal is not some certificate. What makes an ESA legal is the clearance of your dr that you require them. That is the only thing that makes them legal…and ESA’s are only allowed in no pet housing and on air flights with that same dr clearance…
1. Some people are allergic to dogs.
2. Some people are scared of dogs.
3. Some people just don’t like dogs. Personally, I hate the filthy beasts.
Those of us in the above categories are having our rights diminished by pet owners. I am sick of seeing dogs in planes, restaurants, malls, supermarkets, etc.
I think we are being discriminated against.
1-some of us are allergic to toxic, ignorant people.
2-some of us are scared of pathetic, rude, bullying schmucks who call themselves ‘people.’
3-some of us just dont like people. Personally, I hate the filthy liars. They often stink, speak without thinkng and have resorted to bullying others around to get their own way.
Those of us in the above categories are having our rights diminished by other people’s presence. I am sick of seeing people wherever I go, especially planes, restaurants, malls, etc.
I am being discriminated against.
Haha good one Joe. I love dogs too, people not so much.
Love this. There is something SERIOUSLY wrong with people like Dog Hater. No wonder there’s still such awful animal abuse happening in our society.
High five Joe!
ESA’s aren’t allowed in public places unless otherwise trained to do so. If you are complaining about people getting help with their disability from a dog, there is something wrong with you. If you see a service animal in public, go somewhere else. If the dog is trained and identified the business is not allowed to turn them away by law. Also, I’m highly allergic to dogs, and I’ve worked in environments where service dogs are in and out, but you know what? I’m not stuck up enough to complain about a blind person who needs assistance, or an autistic person or anyone in that fact with a disability. Lighten up
well said!
Liz…even if they are trained to the heavens and back ESA’s are not allowed in public except air flights with dr clearance by LAW (and in no pet housing). That is IT regardless of the level of training.
Service dogs are excessively trained and ARE allowed in nearly all the public places the handler is allowed to go to assist that person with a legal disability.
Those of you are far and few between thank God I don’t ever go anywhere without my dog because if I do I have such anxiety it feels like my heart is going to explode so those of us who do need the emotional support dogs really don’t care if you hate him or not and you’re not being discriminated against
Alexis …YOU are breaking the law. ESA’s have no right of public access except on air flights with medical clearance.
Alex-
Have you tried medication for yourself?
I agree people abuse the ESA law. This problem can be fixed simply. May take a huge part on the airlines. It is very easy to get a letter off the internet. So make the rules more stringent. If a person requires an ESA for a honest disorder then it should not be difficult for them. Full disclosure here: I am an animal lover and I now suffer from PTSD. Due to watching my military husband who suffered from combat PTSD commit suicide. I did have my dog certified from my psychologist as an ESA. He was very well behaved and slept on my lap the entire flight. It is my responsibility to ensure he is well behaved. Note: he is a chihauhau. Which brings me to another problem. During the same flight there was a screaming baby and poorly behaved toddlers. As some don’t like animals I don’t much like screaming babies and poorly behaved toddlers. So yes absolutely there are people who take advantage and abuse laws. And everyone has an opinion and different thought processes. I respect yours and usually do not respond in such. But as a veteran and a proud American I wanted my voice heard as well. Thank you for your time.
Ultimately passengers abusing the system are just looking for the cheapest way to transport their animals from Point A to Point B. If airlines reduced the price to transport a pet, you’d likely find the online price of getting fake documentation would also drop as it seems to me that the price is rather arbitrary–the cost of the documentation appears to be set to a discount off the roundtrip cost of flying a pet. Rather than requesting airlines to lower the price of transporting animals, it might be more effective to hold the doctors providing the documentation more responsible. Disallow online transactions. Perform random audits to confirm the methodology used to determine if ESAs are required. Doctors who lack proper documentation should be threatened with loss of their credentials.
Forcing passengers to always travel with an ESA seems appropriate. Someone who requires an animal for a flight should not be able to pick and choose when the animal is needed.
For the record, I love dogs but I don’t love it when people abuse the system. Unfortunately, unless there are more viral incidents regarding ESA abuse, we likely will not see an immediate change in the rules. There are other policies that will likely take priority.
First of all the fees are ridiculous…. if my dog can fit under the space in front of me, then my dog should be free. That is my space that I am suppose to place my purse etc. for free. What about the cheap scapes that drag their bags through the airport and expect others to help them lift the bags into overhead compartments. Or better than that most flights can’t accommodate all of the bags that the people who are trying to save a buck. So then they have to offer people a check your bag for a complimentary price of nothing, I check my bag as I have arthritis and lifting my bag is a struggle. I would never impose on my fellow passenger. So I think it’s pretty crappy that I get charged to place my 6 lb dog under my bought and paid for space, while everyone drags all their luggage and personal belongings on board for free! Btw there is truly something wrong with someone who doesn’t like dogs.
That’s what gets me the most angry. This is our paid for area. There is ZERO extra cost to the airline and ZERO extra burden on other passengers. It’s just a complete ripoff.
As someone who has a medical disability and requires the help of a trained ESA I’m upset at the abuse as well. Everytime someone wants their dog to come live with them they want to sign their dog up to be an ESA. I have never gone on a plane with my dog, but I have brought him into the public. He’s trained not to bark at people though. Soon people arent going to take ESA’s serious.
Elizabeth…you are breaking the law. ESA’s by LAW are not granted public access…except air flights with medical clearance. You are part of the problem you are complaining about. And already no one takes ESA’s seriously. In fact because of you and people like you, they are starting not to take service dogs seriously….and that impacts ME. Thanks alot.
I am a veteran who has a service dog for PTSD. It took 9 months and 4 tests for her to be certified. I was told that was the fastest they’d ever seen a dog pass all the required testing.
My Bailey has been attacked in restaurants and even the VA by fake service dogs. Yes! They’re are tons of fake SD’s out there. I can spot a fake service dog in a second but by law can do nothing about it. I just pray my Bailey doesn’t come across a fake that ends her career or life. As for ESA’s, I loathe these frauds too. My life is hard enough without getting the 3rd degree every time we go out because people slap a vest on Fifi and take them out in public. I flew once from GA to NV and didn’t take her because she’d never been on a plane. I knew the planes were small and crowded & had 3 planes to catch. I didn’t know how she would react to that hectic environment. It was the flights from hell for me but it was the best for her and the other passengers.
As a person with a rare unvisible neurological disorder called chiari I take high offense to you people that keep hating on service dogs. I have a service dog that helps as my neuro alert dog, for if I am strating to have a dizziness and migrane. He provides a service to me and helps me and has been trained and signed off by an actual doctor. He is only 4 pounds so it doesn’t matter what size the dog is or if the person can look prefectly fine you don’t know what health condition they have. So all of you quite being self focused incosiderate assholes and be kind to people that have disabilities.
November 9, 2017 at 8:03 pm
As a person with a rare unvisible neurological disorder called chiari I take high offense to you people that keep hating on service dogs. I have a service dog that helps as my neuro alert dog, for if I am starting to have dizziness episode, and migrane. He provides a service to me that helps me, he has been trained, and signed off by an actual doctor. He is only 4 pounds so it doesn’t matter what size the dog is or if the person can look prefectly fine you don’t know what health condition they have. So all of you quite being self focused incosiderate assholes and be kind to people that have disabilities.
I recently sat in a row with a dog. I didn’t mind the dog – I did mind the fleas that attacked me (and another person in our row).
TIP — I’ve starting carrying anti-itch cream in my carry on now!
As for dog/cat/pet behavior – it is my opinion that the pet owner is entirely responsible for the pet’s behavior.
First of all if u are going online to get documentation for an ESA, then it is fake. Those sites are nothing but scams. U get your letter from a doctor or mental health professional, that u are seeing on a regular basis. Also ESA’s are not trained, support dogs are. They are only for emotional support and do not perform tasks. ESA’S can be other animals besides dogs. I am planning on getting a cat as an ESA soon, once my therapist provides me with a letter to move forward on it. ESA’s and support dogs are not pets and are protected by Federal law. As someone with severe anxiety, depression and complex ptsd, I do not ever see this and other things as “perks”. I would much rather be normal. I would give anything for that. So if I need an animal to help with these problems, then that’s what I’ll do w/out being given crap about it. I’ve never flown on a plane and don’t know if I ever will. But I want to have that option if I do. There will always be people who take advantage of everything they can, to save a buck or cause they think they are special or the rules don’t apply to them. This has always been a problem. These types of people don’t have to struggle or fight to survive another day. And they wouldn’t last even one day. U can usually tell the fake from the real, if u know what to look for. If u need a support dog or an ESA; then it should be mandatory that u get your letter from a doctor, psychiatrist or therapist, not from online. Someone/something that can be legitimately verified w/out it stomping all over yours and your animals rights.
esa is emotional support animal can be a cat their is a psychiatric service dog which is a service dog i think your confused between the two
correction – a psychiatric animal is a service animal, because they too are trained to perform duties for their human. also you didn’t mention diabetic service dogs that can be any breed or size. So before anyone goes around attacking people with ‘fake service dogs’ don’t use this article to educate yourself, do your own research.
i recommend that the author should do more research before writing an article that is inciting dog haters to cause problems for people who have a service dog. he did, after all, state that he doesn’t care for dogs one bit.
people please use common sense before attacking someone with what you think is a ‘fake service dog.’
here’s a trick that’s actually a valid method of determining a service dog – they will not bark or approach anyone other than their human and the rule is four on the floor at all times; unless it’s a psychiatric dog or a diabetic dog.
but most of all do not judge what you do not understand. if you haven’t been through it… just be happy it’s not your life!
Some animals that are trained to assist with some psychiatric conditions do not qualify as Service animals and actually do fall under the realm of emotional support animals. It really depends on whether they are task trained. If the animal helps with a neurological condition, such as autism, Epilepsy, chiari, etc., then there are tasks that can be trained to assist the person with their disability. At this time, for most psychiatric conditions, an emotional support animal is appropriate. However, in the case of PTSD, service animals are trained to alert to chemical changes and then they are task trained to respond. At this time, this is the only mental health condition that service animals are being used to assist with.
Christa, you shouldn’t talk about things you know nothing about. The fact is that when your brain doesn’t work properly then it can and does have physical affects on your body that CAN be assisted very easily. Not to mention that they can be trained to help modulate your mental processes and keep you present through yet more tasks.
Psychiatric service dogs are being task trained for a wide variety of mental conditions…for someone that self harms they get in the middle of it and interrupt it, Since chemical changes happen with alot of mental disorders as the brain goes off the rails…they alert. They guide and protect a person that is dissassociating to safety. They do helping tasks for someone that is suffering utter exhaustion, They are doing physical things to ground someone that is wavering in their touch with the here and now. They do tasks to focus and stabilize a person who is headed towards a freak out. They indicate to a person who has hallucinations whether what that person is seeing is actually there or not. None of this involves jumping in the persons lap and licking them…but specific tasks.
My emotional support animal had over a year of training which cost me a pretty penny before she was certified and vested. We aren’t all jerks that take the system for granted. I’ve paid upwards of $300 each way to have my dog fly with me to keep people from judging me and giving the same rant you just did. But the looks and rude comments still hit me square in the face anytime I take her out in public with her vest on. Banning or making it more difficult for the people that actually follow the rules isn’t a good way to get your point across, especially since my ESA has calmed me down or kept me based in reality on many a flight in the past. And honestly I’d trade anyone any day of the week to just be a normal human being that doesn’t require the use of one. I feel like we have enough negativity in our lives that we shouldn’t need to feel judged anymore than we already do for our illnesses.
I never know what to make of these sorts of articles. I have been formally diagnosed with PTSD. I cannot afford a service animal. I have an emotional support animal for home because of my past experiences I cannot sleep alone without him and a couple of different prescriptions.
Long term trips are a nightmares without him, so this past holiday I decided to take him with me on a flight. He did great. However, taking him was a nightmare because of the way people treated me. Took pictures of me thinking I wasn’t looking while saying I probably didn’t need him. Having to hold the dog for fifteen minutes to be searched extra in front of everyone. Which terrifies me because I don’t like being touched by strangers.
I agree that we need to do something about the people that just don’t want to pay fees. I agree that we need to do something about the trainability of the animals.
However, we need to be careful about how we do this. PTSD is terrifying. You relive past experiences in the present without being aware. You wake up screaming. You find yourself not being able to leave your bedroom to do simple tasks like eating and bathing. It might be because a friend has someone over you don’t know and you find yourself hiding. You struggle to make relationships, and the animal sometimes feels like all you have. You don’t want to be selfish or make it seem like you are.
You’re just poor.
You’re not in the marginally small group of people who get service animal training sponsorship. You can’t pay thousands out of pocket.
These articles scare me. I never asked to need an animal to keep me from screaming at night. The law provides a humane exemption to those who can’t afford the $10K +.
Maybe what we need is less anger for these individuals abusing the system. The people who need it get lumped in because the illness is invisible.
Maybe we need more programs to allow those who really need the animals to have more access to care. Training and specialized licenses for travel. Because who knows, someone who looks like they are too good to pay a fee are actually suffering a great deal on the inside. Let’s stride to help those whom the law was made for be more protected, supported and gain dignity in the process.
Sorry , my aggressive breed mix pit curls up on a 12×12 mat and sleeps the whole flight,
Or till someone let’s thier small child climb over to see the “pretty dog being so good” I tend to smile and answer back “yes , she is being good, can YOU be this good?”
I know I’m from a different generation I raise my children I have raised a couple of my grandchildren and many other children. for other parents do not let your children run up and pet these dogs they are working, just like you were working at home on your computer, they are working.!
Your aggressive dog is a bigger liability to that child than that child is to that dog and that’s a fact
If your dogs aggressive then it should be muzzled and definitely not be in a cramped flight surrounded by a whole bunch of people
It’s an accident waiting to happen.
I recently went through the process of getting a dog under an esa stipulation. I get why people are upset with this. I don’t feel like my dog needs to go in the store, restaurant, gas station etc with me. She is not a service dog. There is a HUGE difference between their purpose. She provides comfort to me. I do plan to have her trained as a therapy animal in the future. Not so I can take her on a plane or in stores, but so I can share the calming qualities of my dog with others. She will only go where she will be allowed to go and when requested. Therapy dogs are the reason I decided to look into getting a support dog. I was in a restaurant the other night and there was a woman that came in with a legitimate service dog, and then a man came in with his “service” dog. Yes it had a vest, but he was having to manhandle the dog to keep it under control. People are abusing this need and it needs to stop.
Wait…. ESA doesn’t have to be a dog. It could be a snake, a spider, a falcon, a chicken, a hamster, you name it. What if my ESA, a monkey get agitated in flight an attacked another passenger. Who is going to cover the medical expenses of said passenger? What if the monkey attacked FA during meal service?
American have stupid laws. Plane cabin with seats are for people. If an animal allowed you put cages not seats. Stupid americans….
If you just want to rant, rave and complain you should be a facebook writer and post this article to your timeline. If you want to be a good write and more so when you label it as “debate” you should do some research and write something educational about both sides of the coin and try to find a solution. If I wanted to read one sided meanless post then I search facebook and Twitter save the blogging to people with more education who are not one sided.
Thankyou Christine,
It is true humans as a group used to care and nature others in need, we spoke to one’s we did not know,even if it was only a HELLO, THANKYOU, or even just shared a smile! , now it’s text this ,tweet that, and we seem to feel entitled to say the rude , mean , brutal , and uncareing hurt filled things that if face to face we may not say at all.
As a child I was taught that what ever I was crying about was something small and tho important at that time if I would just look around and not far just look around I will find someone else who had a much harder situation then I get it and I still apply that she’s so many things today and it’s been over 50 years. Basically you need to look around take into account yes there are cheaters out there it’s not the animals fault it is the one in the other end of the leash. The end of the day it’s still a small world we all live in it and we need to try a better way then hiding behind boards with comments turning nose up and giving dirty looks and just being rude everyone have a great day .
With tbe exception of medical necessities… pets don’t belong on flights.
I get it, you want t your dog or cat with you. I love my dog and cat and would love to take my dog with me when I travel. I am a combat veteran with PTSD. He IS a huge emotional support to me. But a airline cabin is a small crowded space. The air is recycled and too many people suffer from real allergies. It my be my right to get ESA paperwork and bring my dog, but it is not OK to trample the rights of the other passengers and possibly make them ill just because I can.
I CAN get by without him. Most people with ESA CAN also get by without the animal. They nust don’t want to
My ex-wife decided that she didn’t want her dog flying in the cargo area of the plane and she discovered the emotional support animal scam. Our dog was no more of an emotional support dog then I was. I was totally embarrassed and bringing this dog on the plane to sit next to people who would no reason to believe they would be sitting next to a dog I tried to get her to stop doing this to no avail. I see so many dogs in airports now it’s hard for me to believe and I can understand why passengers are not happy to find out they’re sitting next to a dog who has absolutely no training and is just stuffed in the seat as a convenience for the owner. Getting a support letter for this farce took less than 5 minutes. I was amazed that a licensed psychiatrist would give out such a letter with no thought to it whatsoever I wish the airlines would ban this it’s completely been overused and I feel sorry for the people that actually have very expensive and train service animals
I simply do not trust a man who does not like dogs.
Now if a dog doesn’t like an individual human…in my experience the dog is invariably right.
People are entitled to not like dogs. It’s not a personal thing. Some people are allergic, maybe they don’t like dogs growling or barking at them
It’s understandable.
With the policies set in place right now, as an owner of a 55lb dog my only option is to cargo my dog, or to drive.
My husband and I would GLADLY take any airline approved airport obedience training if it were offered AND pay for an extra seat with a wide row or bulkhead (with preference going to anyone with a medical need for the row of course) but those are not options offered for us, so we basically don’t fly anymore. Sorry Airline Industry!
I still cannot figure out how it is not considered abuse to cargo a pet. You wouldnt cargo a child… how is it okay to cargo a pet?
Because a pet is not a child Felicia. Get over it
Your dog is not a person and so is not entitled to the same rules as us humans are
It’s. A. Pet.
If you don’t want to take your dog with you in the cargo hold then don’t take your dog with you at all
Leave your dog with a caretaker or something while you go on vacation but I assume your not okay with that either?
Just because you have some serious issues that cause you to hate animals, does not mean I’m going to put my dog in danger by flying him in cargo just to appease you. That is animal abuse (something I’m sure you’re fine with.) For some of us our dogs ARE our children. If you don’t like that, you can get over it and find other transportation.
But your canine is not a legitimate, trained service dog. it is a PET.
Addition to previous comment….
I also really do LOVE the idea of having a flagged profile… I think that’s a great idea!
May I add my two cents? ESA are NOT protected by law. According to the American with Disabilities Act the ONLY recognized animal is a dog. Not a cockato, lizard, pig, and certainly not a peacock. However, some mini horses are. My son, who happens to be a blind college student just wrote an interesting essay on this very subject. He has a REAL guide dog. Trained, well behaved, and it his eyes. She is trained with a task/job to do. To be considered a Service dogs, the dog must be trained to perform a function/task and not just to be a lap dog. Those people that abuse this system are scum. Shame on them! And thanks for bringing for the article.
For all the haters, I hope that on your next flight a dog the size of a Terranova takes a crap on your carry-on. Have a nice flight!
So a dog barked at you at the airport? Get over it. You’re the one who sounds like a pretentious prima donna. It probably sensed you don’t like dogs, ha. I don’t have a dog but have no problem with dogs at the airport (service, emotional support or otherwise). Also wouldn’t mind sitting next to one on a plane. I don’t get all this hate and fuss about dogs in airports. I believe that traveling with dogs can be stressful enough for the owners with all the paperwork and bureaucracy they have to deal with. Be more lenient and less judmental, people. You don’t know what each individual situation is or why they have their dogs with them. The last thing the owners need after the cumbersome process is to get angry stares at the airport. Be kind. It’s easy.