Misuse of 'service animal' designation a growing concern

[bigheadfred]

LOS ANGELES (KABC) --
Service dogs on an airplane guiding and comforting their owners are an expected sight - but what about cats, lizards, ducks, even pigs?

Airline employees say they're seeing a wider range of animals with the "service" designation.

But a backlash is building over concerns that more and more airline passengers are skirting the rules to fly their pets for free.

And some therapists and other professionals may be making it far too easy for owners to obtain a "service" or "emotional support" designation for their pets.

http://abc7.com/news/service-animals-like-pigs-lizards-on-airplanes-raising-new-concerns/1773786/

I only have a plain old lizard. To think, I coulda had a service lizard instead.

[Smokin Joe]

If someone has a mere pet, they can't rent where pets aren't allowed. Service animals come under different rules with many landlords who may be avoiding ADA sanctions or something like that.

[uglybiker]

You shoulda seen the looks I got the last time I tried to get on a plane with my service skunk. 

[Sanguine]

You shoulda seen the looks I got the last time I tried to get on a plane with my service skunk. 

Yeah, but that wasn't because of the skunk....   

[Suppressed]

My emotional-support suitcase has to fly with me.  It's okay to be in the hold.

[Gefn]

My emotional-support suitcase has to fly with me.  It's okay to be in the hold.

I fly with my teddy bear, it goes in my backpack (carryon) and comforts me during turbulence. And landings. I hate landings.

[EC]

I fly with my teddy bear, it goes in my backpack (carryon) and comforts me during turbulence. And landings. I hate landings.

So do I. I hate being flown by someone else.

[Gefn]

So do I. I hate being flown by someone else.

Wouldn't it be cool to have a pilot's license and your own plane? @EC

[Applewood]

A friend runs a hotel, where only service animals are allowed.  He said you'd be surprised what  pets some people try to pass off as service animals.  One family brought their pet rabbit claiming he was a "seeing eye rabbit."  Um...ok...

Apparently, the chain owning the hotel had required anyone bringing a "service animal" to the hotel must provide some evidence that the animal is indeed a service animal. Not sure what that would be -- maybe some certification from an organization that provides or trains these animals for service that the creature in question is indeed a service animal. But the chain has been subjected to lawsuits under the ADA over this requirement, so I'm not sure the policy is still in place. 

I have a cat who refuses to leave my house.  So when I travel, someone I know babysits my cat.  Why can't people do something similar? 

Or maybe they just want to live in a world where rules don't apply to them. 

[Smokin Joe]

A friend runs a hotel, where only service animals are allowed.  He said you'd be surprised what  pets some people try to pass off as service animals.  One family brought their pet rabbit claiming he was a "seeing eye rabbit."  Um...ok...

Apparently, the chain owning the hotel had required anyone bringing a "service animal" to the hotel must provide some evidence that the animal is indeed a service animal. Not sure what that would be -- maybe some certification from an organization that provides or trains these animals for service that the creature in question is indeed a service animal. But the chain has been subjected to lawsuits under the ADA over this requirement, so I'm not sure the policy is still in place. 

I have a cat who refuses to leave my house.  So when I travel, someone I know babysits my cat.  Why can't people do something similar? 

Or maybe they just want to live in a world where rules don't apply to them.

The 'emotional support animal' seems to be the easiest designation to get, and there are outfits which certify those online. It doesn't require any special training for an animal to fulfill those duties, as the owner determines emotional support gained, unlike seeing eye dogs or some of the others which fetch things or let owners know the phone is ringing.

[Applewood]

The 'emotional support animal' seems to be the easiest designation to get, and there are outfits which certify those online. It doesn't require any special training for an animal to fulfill those duties, as the owner determines emotional support gained, unlike seeing eye dogs or some of the others which fetch things or let owners know the phone is ringing.

Should be some tighter requirenents. 

[GtHawk]

This is wider spread than the misuse of handicap placards by lazy people who buy their disability from a shyster doctor to get a placard, pushing the actual handicapped to park far from a door. I have a therapy dog but would never ever try to take him where other dogs are allowed because his designation does not allow it. I see people, old, young and in between taking their pets everywhere they go including the grocery store which I detest, but I'm in California and the law says that you cannot ask for proof of certification of a service animal so store operator are afraid to even approach these people. And then of course there are the online scams that will sell you a Certificate designating your dog a service animal along with a spiffy service animal vest for about $100 or less.

[GtHawk]

Suddenly I have noticed a number of people with a "service dog" at work. These people are not blind, look to be in their 20s or 30s and in good health. The only explanation I could come up with is that maybe they are vets and have the service dog to help with PTSD. At least I hope that is what it is, as the alternative seems to be someone gaming the system...

There are people with hidden disabilities like PTSD, Epilepsy, Diabetes and other invisible ailments that require the use of a Service or Medical Alert Dog, my experience is that only a few of the many claiming that their dog is an actual trained and certified Service dog are legit. Most of the time it's just entitled people who can't bear to be away from their iddy biddy widdle baby.

[truth_seeker]

There are people with hidden disabilities like PTSD, Epilepsy, Diabetes and other invisible ailments that require the use of a Service or Medical Alert Dog, my experience is that only a few of the many claiming that their dog is an actual trained and certified Service dog are legit. Most of the time it's just entitled people who can't bear to be away from their iddy biddy widdle baby.

The military/VA is pretty big on having veterans use animals, for "comfort."

[uglybiker]

Yeah, but that wasn't because of the skunk....   

grumble grumble eat ONE bowl of chili before you get on the plane and they never let you hear the end of it grumble grumble

[rodamala]

grumble grumble eat ONE bowl of chili before you get on the plane and they never let you hear the end of it grumble grumble

Sounds like an iratable bowel disability to me... full disability checks gonna start rollin in!

'Mericuh!  Where everyone is a victim and nobody is a volunteer!

[GtHawk]

The 'emotional support animal' seems to be the easiest designation to get, and there are outfits which certify those online. It doesn't require any special training for an animal to fulfill those duties, as the owner determines emotional support gained, unlike seeing eye dogs or some of the others which fetch things or let owners know the phone is ringing.

An emotional support animal is not a service animal, they should not be confused with medical alert animals which are trained for each individual and are certified service animals, people with PTSD, severe Anxiety and other serious issues do not have simple ESA's. The ADA has quite specific definitions.

[Smokin Joe]

Should be some tighter requirenents.

Perhaps, but it falls in the highly subjective area of who considers what emotionally supportive. If that category is to exist at all, then it will be difficult to define, and the criteria will be highly difficult to establish. At what level is emotional support "needed", and who can tell whether someone else finds the level of support from a particular animal to be sufficient? Unlike knowing when to cross the street, alerting to red  lights, fetching stuff, or a ringing phone of smoke detector (for the deaf), emotional support is hard for anyone to define or assess but the owner who derives the support. There is no objective standard of performance which can be judged by anyone else.

[Sanguine]

Does ADA force the airlines to allow service animals for free?  And, does ADA define "service animal"?

[Smokin Joe]

An emotional support animal is not a service animal, they should not be confused with medical alert animals which are trained for each individual and are certified service animals, people with PTSD, severe Anxiety and other serious issues do not have simple ESA's. The ADA has quite specific definitions.

Thank you for that info. I know of someone who got an apartment in an otherwise no pets complex by having their animal certified as an "emotional support animal", and is allowed to keep the pet there. That's why I figured the ADA was involved somewhere (or fear of it).

[Frank Cannon]

I fly with my teddy bear, it goes in my backpack (carryon) and comforts me during turbulence. And landings. I hate landings.

If by teddy bear you mean bottle of scotch, I do the same thing! Great minds think a lot.

[bigheadfred]

If by teddy bear you mean bottle of scotch, I do the same thing! Great minds think a lot.

What would she be if Anita Lott married Roger Moore?

[Silver Pines]

I was in the grocery store not long ago, and a woman was pushing her dog around in the shopping cart.  He was lying in the cart's body....where people put their groceries, and then put them in their fridges, pantries, tables, counters, etc.

[bigheadfred]

I was in the grocery store not long ago, and a woman was pushing her dog around in the shopping cart.  He was lying in the cart's body....where people put their groceries, and then put them in their fridges, pantries, tables, counters, etc.

It is ok. The dog... probably bathes more than she does.

[Frank Cannon]

I was in the grocery store not long ago, and a woman was pushing her dog around in the shopping cart.  He was lying in the cart's body....where people put their groceries, and then put them in their fridges, pantries, tables, counters, etc.

What are you, some sort of freak? I often put my dogs in the shopping cart. That's what the carts for. Am I supposed to carry them between my legs while I shop?