[NAGDU] Question Regarding Allegiant Airlines Requiring a Completed Veterinarian Form for Flying with a Guide Dog f

[mwelch8877 at gmail.com]

Hi Everyone, 

 

Does anyone know if the below is legal regarding Allegiant's airlines
requirements for flying with a guide dog? I purchased a ticket with
Allegiant Airlines and, according to Allegiant, in order to fly with my
guide dog, I am required to have a veterinarian health certificate completed
by my veterinarian. This completed form from my veterinarian must then be
presented at the Allegiant ticket counter when I check in for each flight.
The requirements for completed forms prior to flying with Allegiant are
different for emotional support animals verses task trained service animals.
I did not think that the airlines were legally permitted to require those of
us who use guide dogs to complete any type of veterinarian health forms
prior to flying? Have there been some changes recently that I am not aware
of? Or, have the airlines always been legally able to require this all along
and have not started to enforce it until recently? I have never been
required to complete any type of vet health forms prior to flying with my
guide dogs within the United States. I have cut and pasted the information
regarding service animals from the Allegiant website below for your
reference. I have also copied and pasted the text from the required
veterinarian form below for your reference. Lastly, I have included the link
to the Allegiant website where all this information and the vet form can be
found. 

 

IN reading over the required veterinarian form, one question that does
concern me is my vet is expected to answer the question if my service dog
has been fully task trained to mitigate a disability. Since I use a guide
dog, it is pretty obvious what the trained task of my dog is. But, if this
form is legal, I do not understand how it is going to cut down on poorly
behaved and fake service animals. Theoretically, anyone can take their pet
dog to their vet with a vest or harness and say that it is a service dog. As
long as the dog is well behaved during the vet visit, the person can tell
all kinds of tails about what type of tasks the dog has been trained to
perform to mitigate a disability. I just don't understand how a veterinarian
has the expertise to determine if a service dog has been task trained to
mitigate a person's disability? 

 

At any rate, below is the information from the Allegiant website. Any
feedback anyone is able to provide is greatly appreciated. 

 

Information from Allegiant Website: 

Service Animals

Allegiant welcomes passengers traveling with a fully trained service animal,
such as those accompanying a hearing- or visually-impaired person. To assist
us in determining whether an animal poses a direct threat to the health or
safety of others, Allegiant requires the following documentation for travel
with a fully trained service animal:

*	Trained Service Animal(s) Veterinary Health Form

Present fully completed Veterinary Health form to an Allegiant
representative at check-in for each flight.

 
<https://www.allegiantair.com/sites/default/files/pdf-files/Service-Animal-F
orm_012120.pdf> Click here to download the form for a Service Animal

 

Text from Required Veterinarian Form for Service Animals:

Trained Service Animals

Allegiant welcomes passengers traveling with a trained service animal(s). A
service animal is individually trained to assist individuals in mitigating
one or more disabilities by performing a specific task(s).*

Ensuring the safety of all passengers, crew, airport personnel, and animals
traveling on Allegiant is and always will be Allegiant's top priority. To
that end, we require all passengers traveling with trained service animals
have their licensed veterinarian complete the following form, which will
assist us in determining whether an animal poses a direct threat to the
health or safety of others. Additionally, please note:

. Allegiant transports domestic dogs, cats and miniature horses, except that
pit bull and pit bull-type breeds are prohibited on Allegiant flights

. Passengers may travel with up to three (3) trained service animals if
required to perform work or tasks directly related to the passenger's
disability

. Service animals may only occupy the passenger's purchased space in
accordance with FAA safety regulations. The animal may lie under the seat
immediately in front of the passenger or travel on the passenger's lap if
the animal is no larger than an approximately 30-lb child.

. If the passenger's service animal(s) is/are not capable of occupying the
disabled passenger's foot space with essentially no encroachment upon other
space, the passenger may be required to purchase a second seat to
accommodate the animal.

. Passengers accompanied by trained service animal(s) are required to
present a fully completed Veterinarian Health Form for each animal to an
Allegiant representative at check-in for each flight.

Many of your questions may be answered by visiting our website at
allegiantair.com/passengers-special-needs
<http://allegiantair.com/passengers-special-needs> .

If you are unable to find an answer, please contact Allegiant at
allegiantair.com/customer-request-assistance
<http://allegiantair.com/customer-request-assistance> . Or you may contact
Customer Care at 702-505-8888. Please note wait times may vary depending on
the time of day.

* In all cases the work or tasks performed by a service animal must be
directly related to the individual's disability, such as a fully trained
animal assisting an individual who is blind or has low vision with
navigation and other tasks. The provision by an animal of emotional support,
well-being, comfort or companionship does not constitute work or tasks;
please visit allegiantair.com/passengers-special-needs
<http://allegiantair.com/passengers-special-needs>  for forms applicable to
such animals (Emotional Support/Psychiatric Service Animals).

12/19/19 Page 1 of 2

Trained Service Animal Veterinary Health Form

Passenger Name: Animal Name: Animal Breed:

Is the animal a pit-bull type breed? YES / NO

Please note Allegiant does not transport pit-bull or pit-bull type breeds.

Veterinarian Name:

License Number & Expiration Date:

State License was Issued by:

Most Recent Date Animal was Examined:

Most Recent Date of Rabies Vaccine & Valid thru:

Is the animal over the age of 4 months?

Please note Allegiant does not transport service animals under the age of 4
months.

YES / NO

When most recently examined, did the animal appear to be free of infectious
or contagious disease that could endanger other animals or public health?

YES / NO

Is the animal fully task trained to mitigate a disability?

YES / NO

To my knowledge (Select one of the following):

The animal HAS NOT bitten or injured/attacked a person or another animal.

The animal HAS bitten or injured/attacked a person or another animal.
Provide explanation:

Veterinarian Signature & Date:

Veterinarian Contact Info (phone number, email address, office address):

. Form must be fully completed and dated within one year of travel date.

. A passenger may travel with up to three (3) trained service animals if
required to perform work or tasks directly

related to the passenger's disability - a separate form is required for each
animal . Present completed form to an Allegiant representative at check-in
for each flight

Form 1 of 1

                  12/19/19 Page 2 of 2 

 

Link to Allegiant Website where all the above information and vet form can
be found:

https://www.allegiantair.com/passengers-special-needs

 

Thank you, 

 

Milissa