[NAGDU] Traveling

[Jenine Stanley]

Sadly, the issue of poorly controlled animals in airports is caused, in part, by the airlines’ failure to take any responsibility in not allowing them. During the regulation process that lead to the current DOT form, many of the advocates stated that if the airlines had simply said “No” to people with animals that were clearly not controlled in the boarding area or during pre boarding, the issues would probably lessen considerably. 

Airline representatives’ response to these statements was that they couldn’t offend the customer so chose not to say anything. 

Yes, the advocates pointed out the illogical premiss of this kind of statement. It all goes back to the notion that behavior in public, honed by good handling skills and proper socialization of the animal, should be what is judged when looking at access, not when the animal got vaccines or how much it weighs and where it was trained. That doesn’t mean service animals have to be perfect. It does mean that handlers need to at least be making efforts to correct poor behavior. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤯

Sorry, weary advocate speaking here. 
 

> On Feb 5, 2023, at 10:22 PM, Elizabeth Campbell via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi Robert,
> 
> Thank you for bringing up this topic as I've had very similar experiences
> while traveling. There are lots of dogs that are out of control, and
> their owners don't discipline them in any way from what i can tell. I'm
> sure they've paid extra to have their dogs in the cabin, but that shouldn't
> give them a pass in terms of allowing their dogs to misbehave.
> As for the Uber denials, I've also heard about several in the Dallas/Fort
> Worth area, and as TXAGDU president, I've asked folks to reach out to me
> and to NAGDU.
> Fortunately, I haven't had any denials lately, but I had a strange
> experience yesterday when I took an Uber home from Target.
> As I was taking my groceries inside, I noticed that the driver was still
> parked in my driveway. I asked him if everything was all right. His
> response was, "I'm cleaning up a mess in the backseat." I asked him what
> happened, and he said the floor was full of white powder, and he said that
> he could see my dog's paw prints. I felt it was better to take the high
> road and told him I had a handheld vacuum that he could borrow. He said he
> didn't need it.
> I also explained that I brush my dog every day. I checked Barbara's fur and
> paws, and didn't feel any powder, so I don't know what the driver was
> referring to.
> I checked my receipt to make sure that I wasn't charged a cleaning fee.
> Nonetheless, it was a strange experience.
> 
> On Sun, Feb 5, 2023 at 3:59 PM robert stigile via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
> 
>> Hello all,
>> While trabeling last week to visit family and then going on to Washington
>> Seminar, I noticed in every airport there was at least one unruely,
>> misbehaved dog.
>> I bring this up, to say its not fare that we have to fill out a form that
>> says we are subject to being removed if our dogs are slightly misbehaved or
>> someone just doesnt like dogs.
>> I hope nagdu is working with dot to change this issue, because as my dog
>> layed there sleeping while in the terminals and on the plane there were
>> dogs barking and growling and the airline staff wont eo anything about it.
>> Also, while in dc, I had a uber denial as did every guide dog team i came
>> across and uber seems to be doing nothing about it.
>> They send emails that say they take the matter seriously but if they
>> really did it wouldnt happen any more. They are suppose to have cancelled
>> trips in the trip list but they dont and if you recieve a call and miss it
>> there is no second option though you can return the call but you wont get a
>> hold of someone.
>> Something needs to change and soon, as I hear many say i just dont take my
>> dog on important trips and thats not the answer.
>> Thank you,
>> Robert  Stigile, Second Vice-President
>> National Federation of the Blind of California
>> President San Fernando Valley Chapter
>> 818-381-9568
>> Kn6uvd
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> 
> 
> -- 
> Elizabeth Campbell
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