Service animals on planes?

I feel that it has been abused to the point of absurdity, and that people who just want to take Fluffy along should be ashamed of using the "support animal" thing. Of course, they are "entitled" and they have no shame, but there you are.

I am also old-school and don't believe pets belong at the mall or in the grocery store. I'm a dog lover but my little dog always waited at home while I shopped.
 
I don't care about service dogs that are needed by the owner to fly on planes but I agree too that it's been abused by spoiled people who want to take their spoiled pets everywhere with them for free. Those selfish types lie to get the certificate needed and don't give a damn about anyone but themselves. I love my pets and would like to take them everywhere if I could but I won't lie and cheat to do it

https://youtu.be/w8SQ62Um280


https://youtu.be/AO_mAfYM1Vo
 
A friend has an expensive purebred dog who is her companion. She said until airlines learn to treat animals properly (what most airlines do with animals in cargo is cruel and too many of them die), she will continue to register her as a service animal so she can keep her beside her and know she's safe.

It isn't only the animal owners. The airlines share some responsibility for creating the situation.

http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/traveling-pets-airlines-dog-deaths/story?id=11198807
 
Smiling Jane said:
A friend has an expensive purebred dog who is her companion. She said until airlines learn to treat animals properly (what most airlines do with animals in cargo is cruel and too many of them die), she will continue to register her as a service animal so she can keep her beside her and know she's safe.

It isn't only the animal owners. The airlines share some responsibility for creating the situation.

http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/traveling-pets-airlines-dog-deaths/story?id=11198807
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If your friend doesn't need a "service animal," she should be paying for the seat for her dog.
 
C'est Moi said:
I feel that it has been abused to the point of absurdity, and that people who just want to take Fluffy along should be ashamed of using the "support animal" thing. Of course, they are "entitled" and they have no shame, but there you are.

I am also old-school and don't believe pets belong at the mall or in the grocery store. I'm a dog lover but my little dog always waited at home while I shopped.
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Agreed. But, I do have to admit, I am a dog lover and when in the UK, I get a kick out of seeing dogs go into some stores and pubs. Health laws in the states don't allow for this.
 
When I'm shopping, I don't want to take care of or have to watch out for a dog. I was glad when my son was old enough I didn't have to take him. I love my animals, but I don't need them with me at all times.

I know people who take their dogs to work. A woman I worked with owned a very bitey German shepherd and when she brought that dog in to work, you could heard office doors being slammed up and down the hallways.
 
retiredtraveler said:
Agreed. But, I do have to admit, I am a dog lover and when in the UK, I get a kick out of seeing dogs go into some stores and pubs. Health laws in the states don't allow for this.
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I think it depends on the state, plus the "service animal" fake paperwork helps people bypass any health law. I see dogs everywhere now; women with those silly "doggie strollers" and little Yappy all dressed up with nails painted. That should be animal abuse, IMO.
 
It's not only a matter of paying for the dog's seat. According to the story in my link that began this discussion, a man was seriously mauled by a dog in the next seat, supposedly an emotional support dog. Apparently that's not such a rare event.

And even if it isn't usually that extreme, imagine being stuck next to a little yapping dog that keeps barking because that's how it reacts to other animals on the plane. In fact, in my experience as a 4-time dog owner, very few dogs remain calm and quiet when in the near vicinity of cats. And what if someone brings his pet snake on the plane, unconfined in a cage or a box? Where is the line drawn?

So, what about the rights and "emotional distress" of the passengers stuck in this situation? What about people who are allergic or phobic about animals? Wow.
 
Sunny said:
It's not only a matter of paying for the dog's seat. According to the story in my link that began this discussion, a man was seriously mauled by a dog in the next seat, supposedly an emotional support dog. Apparently that's not such a rare event.

And even if it isn't usually that extreme, imagine being stuck next to a little yapping dog that keeps barking because that's how it reacts to other animals on the plane. In fact, in my experience as a 4-time dog owner, very few dogs remain calm and quiet when in the near vicinity of cats. And what if someone brings his pet snake on the plane, unconfined in a cage or a box? Where is the line drawn?

So, what about the rights and "emotional distress" of the passengers stuck in this situation? What about people who are allergic or phobic about animals? Wow.
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All excellent points, ignored by the "entitled."
 
I am most in favor of support dogs use by people with disabilities, like for those in wheelchairs, or guide dogs for the blind. Even dogs that sense a siezure or something. But the whole emotional support thing is, I feel, getting a bit out of hand.
Now, many of you know I have owned rats. I have had people in rat forums talk about using rats as an emotional support animal, in order to justify bringing them into a restaurant, or some public place. Sorry, that I do not buy.

So while I feel there needs to be acceptance of medical support animals, or physical ones, these animals are specially trained and will have a harness identifying them as a support dog. Beyond that, nope.
 
retiredtraveler said:
Agreed. But, I do have to admit, I am a dog lover and when in the UK, I get a kick out of seeing dogs go into some stores and pubs. Health laws in the states don't allow for this.
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I too am a dog lover, and as you say Dogs are allowed in Pubs (well behaved dogs that is of course)...and many pubs will advertise themselves as Dog friendly. However shops (unless it's the local village store)... are not permitted to allow dogs to enter unless they are a support dog for the Blind and the very odd support dog like my friend has because she has severe epilepsy. Support dogs apart for those for the blind are not huge here.. yet!


On the subject of dogs in the Cargo hold, whenever we have to take or bring any of our dogs back to the UK from Spain where my daughter has kennels.. we drive them.. which means a very long expensive journey by road and by boat..but much rather that than have them in the Cargo Hold..
 
Marie5656 said:
I am most in favor of support dogs use by people with disabilities, like for those in wheelchairs, or guide dogs for the blind. Even dogs that sense a siezure or something. But the whole emotional support thing is, I feel, getting a bit out of hand.
Now, many of you know I have owned rats. I have had people in rat forums talk about using rats as an emotional support animal, in order to justify bringing them into a restaurant, or some public place. Sorry, that I do not buy.

So while I feel there needs to be acceptance of medical support animals, or physical ones, these animals are specially trained and will have a harness identifying them as a support dog. Beyond that, nope.
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I think we all agree that people with actual disabilities should definitely be able to have their trained service animal with them.
 
Speaking of animal welfare on planes, this is a good news story about a rescue maltese terrier that was stranded at Alice Springs Airport when his plane was grounded due to engine problems on a flight from Sydney to KL. The good people of The Outback saw that he was OK.

An unaccompanied pooch onboard a faulty Malaysia Airlines flight which was forced to make an emergency landing in Central Australia has made it home after a "ruff" 17,000 kilometre journey.

Timothy the Maltese terrier was forced to spend a night in Alice Springs last week, along with the 224 passengers who were onboard Malaysia Airlines flight MH122 when one of its engines failed.

The six-year-old rescue dog was travelling on his first-ever flight from Sydney via Kuala Lumpur to London, where his family was relocating.

"My worst nightmare was that he'd just been left in a hold crate on the runway with no access to food or water," said owner Susan Merrell, who was travelling with her family on a different airline.

Instead, the Alice Springs community leapt into action, offering food and shelter for the night, and even a play date with a local dog.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-...r-rescue-dog-stranded-on-flight-mh122/9354268
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As a pilot for United, I really never got involved with this part of the boarding process. I know that the flight attendants (F/A) usually asked for the dog's certificate that explains why it is necessary for the animal to be with the passenger and also certifies that the animal has been trained, but beyond that, the Purser was in charge of boarding animals and passengers. The animal may sit at the owner's feet, but may not extend into the aisles.

I also know that we did have, from time to time, a dead animal come off the plane that was in the cargo hold due to various reasons, which included stress. I also remember that our flight attendants would complain about having to clean up feces and urine while the plane was in the air or after landing. This is definitely not part of their job description, even though the F/A's are supposed to do a quick clean-up of the cabin between flights. When the plane sits at the terminal overnight, our maintenance crews are to inspect each plane, vacuum and wipe down all of the seat dividers, remove all trash and clean the lavatories.

And, I know that advance notice to the airline must be given and the documentation that states the animal's species, sex and also states that the animal has been trained must accompany the animal being brought on-board. The owner accepts all responsibility for the animal's behavior due to the fact that the airline is required to allow the animal on-board by federal law. If passengers are flying international, they must check with the country they are flying to, in order to make certain that the animal is permitted to enter that particular country.
 
An incident came to mind after I made my initial post. I remembered that we had a lady on-board some years back that was afraid of dogs, but was going to be seated with a passenger that was bringing a dog on-board and only on a leash. She was very upset that she was going to have to sit next to this dog, even though the dog was on the floor. The airline had no policy at that time, but common sense dictated that we offer her another seat. The plane was not full on that flight, so she had several choices and selected one closer to the door. She was satisfied with the switch, so all ended well.

I also remember the time that we had a German Shepherd on-board that became ill and vomited. Our F/A was very angry that she had to clean it up while in flight. The owner thought that the airline provided this service and refused to do the clean-up. There was some hullabaloo between the passenger and the gate agent after we landed. I don't know how the situation turned out.
 
I can imagine the number of animal "horror stories" that airline personnel can tell! Oldman, I bet your experiences are just the tip of the iceberg.

Apart from those who are phobic or allergic, what about the perfectly reasonable human need for some peace and quiet? Being stuck next to a distressed, yapping dog sounds like the flight from hell, even worse than being stuck next to a screaming toddler.

Probably this "support animal" thing should begin and end with those who are needed to assist people with some documented physical incapacitation. For those who need their kangaroo or whatever along on the trip for emotional support, I think the answer should be a resounding "No!"
 
debbie in seattle said:
What about the folks who have super bad allergies to pets? Peanuts were removed from planes due to severe allergies.
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Unfortunately, if the animal is classified as a "Service Animal", the animal has more rights than the passenger. What I mean is that if the passenger is allergic, say to cat or dog dander, the airline will make every effort to re-seat the passenger elsewhere on the plane, but if that cannot be accomplished, the animal will fly and the passenger will be deplaned and given a seat on a later flight, unless someone will switch with them. This is according to the laws seat forth by Congress.

It doesn't seem fair, does it? So, if anyone has any issues with any types of animals, they should contact the airline in advance to find out if they are being seated in the same row as an animal that they may be allergic to. If they are, they should notify the airline and request another seat while seats may still be available. If a passenger gets to the airport and then finds out that they are sitting in the same row as a cat and are allergic to cat dander and the plane is full and no one will switch with the passenger that has the allergy, too bad. They will have a choice of either holding their breath for the next few or several hours until landing, tolerate it or ask to be re-boarded on the next flight.

I recall that we had three dogs and two cats on a flight from Los Angeles to New York. This is typical on this flight. One dog and one cat was stowed in the cargo area. When we arrived in New York, I learned that the dog was near death. It gets really cold at 37,000 ft. Somewhere around -40°. Of course, it's not that cold in the hold, but it's down around +15° F. But, even still, that's cold for a 5-5 1/2 flight.
 

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