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Well, they're still required to allow SERVICE animals - and those will always supersede anyone with allergies. They will also still allow fee-paid PETS in the cabin, with whatever current restrictions exist (usually one or two allowed per flight). These new rules would only apply to ESAs, which have become a way for folks to avoid paying fees or get around other restrictions.
From the article: The changes don’t affect pets that customers pay to take into the cabin in enclosed carriers. and Delta Air Lines Inc. is barring emotional-support and service animals that are less than four months old, while banning all support animals from flights longer than eight hours. So yeah, this doesn't mean their flights will be 100% animal-free; it's just a way to reduce the number of BS-ers, since a 4 month-old puppy/kitten isn't trained for these surroundings yet.
This whole “emotional support animal” thing looks so fake and full of fuss.
May be it does work for people but sometimes I feel that doctors who recommend emotional support animals need to see a psychiatrist themselves.
It's a legitimate "science" for those who really need it, like someone with severe PTSD or agoraphobia... the problem is that too many people now have latched onto this idea, once they discovered it was an easy way to get around fees and restrictions (when flying, renting an apartment, staying at a hotel, etc). Unfortunately the abuse of these laws has affected those with REAL service and ESA animals, to where they're no longer taken seriously either. Real shame.
The four month age requirement seems to tie into the earliest time when a properly vaccinated puppy or kitten can be assumed to have proper immunity from rabies. This is consistent with other best practices animal transport guidelines that require current rabies vaccination documentation, including for legit service dogs.
It's a legitimate "science" for those who really need it, like someone with severe PTSD or agoraphobia... the problem is that too many people now have latched onto this idea, once they discovered it was an easy way to get around fees and restrictions (when flying, renting an apartment, staying at a hotel, etc). Unfortunately the abuse of these laws has affected those with REAL service and ESA animals, to where they're no longer taken seriously either. Real shame.
But legitimate ESA animals are not puppies or kittens. They are cute and comforting, but they are not trained, and yes, even ESA pets need to be trained.
This whole “emotional support animal” thing looks so fake and full of fuss.
May be it does work for people but sometimes I feel that doctors who recommend emotional support animals need to see a psychiatrist themselves.
Actually those who really need them (PSTD) do see someone as well, and an animal, especially a trained service dog, does help. I do know someone who trains SERVICE dogs for soldiers and others with PSTD and injuries as well as kids with various disabilities including Asperger's. These are service dogs not emotional support animals but they serve also as emotional support. The problem is, especially here in Florida, the elderly woman or couple who won't leave FeeFee home when they go to the store and claim them to be emotional support. The man I know who trains dogs has had several instances where a fake emotional support dog has attacked a true service dog. All emotional support dogs should be trained and classified as service dogs to be given access to places dogs aren't allowed. I think it will eventually come down to having a "license" that says your dog has been trained to perform either a task or support for emotional issues. The license should be free if you have a registered trainer (not some over the internet certificate) who trained the dog or a small fee for the dog to be validated by a registered trainer if you trained the dog yourself. All trainers of service animals should register and fees for such shouldn't be absurd as some, like the guy I know, do it for free as they are a charitable organization who depend on donations and the training of regular dogs to cover the costs of training service dogs.
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