I routinely mock fake service dogs on this blog and hold their owners in contempt. Those who selfishly slap a “service animal” vest on their poorly-trained dog place in jeopardy the ability of those who truly need service animals to travel. But today, rather than showcase another example of a fake service dog, I will showcase an example of a gentle and well-trained service dog that does belong on an airplane.
Meet Champ, A Real Airplane Service Dog
Meet Champ and her owner, Cassidy. Cassidy transparently explains her disability:
I have a rare genetic type of dwarfism, called Conradi-Hünermann syndrome which affects everything in my body. It mainly affects my spine, causing me to have kyphoscoliosis, meaning my spine bends on two different planes…
Along with my kyphoscoliosis, I have Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency (PFFD) which causes a limb length discrepancy. Basically, my entire right side is about five inches shorter than my left side. So in order to help me walk more comfortably in public, I wear an orthotic foot on foot prosthesis (pictured above). And I also use other mobility aids like my service dog Champ, and a manual wheelchair sometimes.
I am also blind in my right eye and deaf in my left ear, so I wear a hearing aid and glasses to help with this. I have a few other conditions like patchy alopecia, restrictive lung disease, and ichthyosis. And I have had a grand total of 43 surgeries (41 spine surgeries and two eye surgeries) in my 21 years on this planet!
First, Cassidy is far braver than I am to travel the world despite such physical limitations. I have a huge amount of respect for her. Second, it is clear that her need for a service dog is far from a fantastical delusion of a selfish narcissist, unlike so many of the Lululemon prima donnas who parade their dogs into first class to avoid pet cabin fees.
That alone, however, is not enough. She may greatly need a service dog, but a service dog that is poorly trained or poorly behaved is no less a terror to other passengers than any other animal onboard.
But here we meet Champ, who is clearly gentle and well-trained…just look at how skilfully he handles a TSA checkpoint and sits quietly onboard.
This is how it should be done, folks. This is how every dog should act in an airport or on a plane. Dogs (and dog owners) like this merit not an ounce of scorn from me.
And finally, kudos to Cassidy for buying a second seat for her (large) service dog. That makes the experience so much better for everyone. I do realize that not everyone may be able to afford it, but it shows such respect for her fellow travelers.
See folks, I’m not always against dogs on planes. But this story is a stark reminder of how few Cassidy + Champ situations I see onboard and more like this or this or this.
Don’t forget about the attempt to bring an emotional support peacock…
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42880690
(ED NOTE: note the credit in the BBC story ;))
Thank you Cassidy and Champ for sharing your travel experience with us. All the best going forward! And shame on those that diminish the value of a true helper in life.
All she needs is a saddle on that thing.
Kudos to them and all of the other differently abled souls who brave it out to do the things most of us take for granted.
People wouldn’t have to fake a service dog if it wasn’t completely impossible to travel safely with their beloved animals. It’s easy to shame the owners, but we need to look into the “why”. Most of us cannot afford to charter a private plane in order to relocate and bring our animal(s) with us. And too many beloved pets have died when traveling in cargo. Airlines need to do better, as do apartments, and other necessary facilities. Especially post-pandemic, most of us have pets now, and we should not struggle to find somewhere to live because of it, or struggle to relocate, travel etc.
If you want to travel with your pet, then drive. Or you can hire a house sitter who will also care for your pet, or board your pet. These are all things you should consider when getting a pet. Such is important for the well-being of a pet, just like proper veterinarian care (and knowing those costs, so the pet does not get dumped at a pound bc an owner will not or cannot pay the medical costs). It ain’t cheap, and the rest of us should not have to suffer your poor choices.
Well said!
I totally agree with the point of the post, but . . . “premodannas” ?? from a world traveler like you, Matthew?
The term is prima donna.
In English, the plural is prima donnas.
In the original Italian, I believe the plural is prime donne.
premo don-nos is the male version describing the period , pre-donald trump .
That is that stupid Grammarly which is more trouble than it’s worth!
While I get why you and others may be frustrated by some people taking advantage of the service animal rules, at the end of the day, it is not up to you, me, or anyone else to judge who is disabled enough to require a service animal on a flight (or anywhere else). It is up to the airlines, government and the medical community. Someone’s disability may not be visible to you or other people, and they may still need a service animal. Someone may be a borderline case of needing one or not needing one. Who knows. Instead of whining and moaning on this blog, what you should be doing is lobbying the government to clarify the various rules surrounding this with new legislation.
Somehow I don’t think “new legislation” will protect us from the Oropouche Virus .