I love dogs. I love animals. When I've been aboard a plane I see only doggies and they haven't bothered me. However, airlines say the number of passengers bringing support animals has grown dramatically in recent years. Well, that may soon change.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has proposed that only specially trained dogs qualify as service animals, which must be allowed in the cabin at no charge.
Airlines may be able to ban emotional-support animals including untrained dogs, cats and more exotic companions such as pigs, pheasants, rabbits and snakes. Airlines report that they lobbied the Transportation Department to change the regulation regarding support animals because they considered it a scam as many passenger claimed their pets were emotional-support animals to avoid the pet fees. Airline attendants were ecstatic over the news as they too pushed to reign in the support animals.
Veterans groups have also sided with the airlines, arguing that the increase in untrained dogs and other animals threatens their ability to fly with properly trained service dogs. More than 80 veterans and disability groups endorsed banning untrained emotional-support animals in airline cabins.
There are few more changes with the new support animal rule among them many airlines will require animal owners to fill out paperwork 48 hours in advance.
Click here for more information. ~grace
