Travel
Girl “Injured” By “Support Dog” On Flight
- On Feb 21, an incident took place involving a young girl (6-7 yrs old) while boarding plane.
- Southwest says dog “scraped” girl’s forehead with teeth (AP).
- Dog reportedly “support” pet of another passenger.
Flip For Why It Matters
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Consider The Context
Drama-Filled Month
- In late January, a United Airlines passenger made national headlines when she tried to bring a peacock named Dexter on a flight as a “support” pet.
- United denied the peacock a seat and a debate about “appropriate” support animals ensued.
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Why This Is Important
“United had been reviewing its policy since late last year after a 75% increase in emotional-support animals on flights and “a significant increase in onboard incidents.”
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Why Is This Happening?
Possible Explanations
- Support pets, like service animals, fly free.
- Support pets do not receive the same rigorous training as a “service” pet, which can lead to more “incidents.”
- No hard firm rules about acceptable “comfort” animals on flights.
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Airlines: Reviewing Rules
- Stricter regulations on “comfort” animals resisted by some who say increased documentation unfair to the truly disabled.
- Current rules purposefully very broad; spiders are clearly NOT considered comfort pets, but did you know miniature horses are included in The Americans with Disabilities Act as “service pets”?
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Just For Kicks: Dexter, the peacock, may not have "frequent flyer" miles but he has his own instagram account.
Read
Sources
- Girl injured by dog during boarding for Southwest flight https://apnews.com/f29933c0a6f242d8828fa7cd51498a4a
Unlike service animals such as guide dogs, support animals need no training. However, passengers can be asked to show a medical professional’s note explaining why they need the animal to travel. Southwest started reviewing its policy even before Wednesday’s event, Ford said. Starting next week, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines will require more paperwork and assurances from owners of support animals. Both Delta and United said they have seen a sharp rise in the number of support animals in the last year or so. Last June, a 70-pound (32-kilogram) dog flying on Delta as a support animal bit a passenger in the face severely enough that the man required hospital care. - Dexter: https://www.instagram.com/dexterthepeacock/
- A duck with a window seat? How ‘emotional support’ critters are getting on your flight http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article201164864.html
- An emotional support peacock? Comfort animal or not, some airlines saying no as rules are tightened https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2018/01/31/airlines-tighten-rules-comfort-animals-rather-than-wait-dot/1083895001/
- Following peacock fiasco, United Airlines tightens policy for comfort animals https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2018/02/01/united-joins-delta-updating-policies-deal-flood-comfort-animals/1086683001/