[NFBofAlaska] FW: [Geb-grads] The US transportation department has issued a final rule essentially banning emotional support animals on flights

Wed Dec 2 20:40:54 UTC 2020

Okay, so perhaps someone knows the answer to my question… If you are moving or needing to take your small animal with you and you pay for a ticket to take them in a carrier under your seat, can you still do that? Cats have been known to die when they are put in the baggage compartment. We have moved twice, once all the way from Georgia to Alaska and put our kitties in carriers underneath our seats and in both cases, they traveled with no problem. I sure hope, if we needed to, we would still be able to carry them this way. Thoughts?

Thanks for sharing this info, Katie. 

Bonnie

Bonnie Lucas

President

National Federation of the Blind of Alaska

907-301-6808

nfbofalaska at gmail.com <mailto:nfbofalaska at gmail.com> 

nfbalaska.org <mailto:nfbofalaska at gmail.com> 

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.

From: NFBofAlaska <nfbofalaska-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Katie Lester via NFBofAlaska
Sent: Wednesday, December 2, 2020 11:28 AM
To: nfbofalaska at nfbnet.org
Cc: Katie Lester <katie.e.lester.28 at gmail.com>
Subject: [NFBofAlaska] FW: [Geb-grads] The US transportation department has issued a final rule essentially banning emotional support animals on flights

Hi everyone,

I just received this email. This is a big step. 

Have a great day!

Katie Lester

NFB Alaska Board Member

530-277-1778

Katie.e.lester.28 at gmail.com <mailto:Katie.e.lester.28 at gmail.com> 

From: Geb-grads <geb-grads-bounces at lists.screenreview.org <mailto:geb-grads-bounces at lists.screenreview.org> > On Behalf Of Ariana Parker via Geb-grads
Sent: Wednesday, December 2, 2020 8:57 AM
To: geb-grads at lists.screenreview.org <mailto:geb-grads at lists.screenreview.org> 
Subject: [Geb-grads] The US transportation department has issued a final rule essentially banning emotional support animals on flights

I’m sure many of you has had run ins with un-trained animals in the airport. I got my guide about 2 months before quarantine so have not flown with him yet. This is good news for those with real service animals.  My only question is I do know the ADA only recognize miniature horses, and dogs as service animals. I will never have a mini Horse  is as a guide, simply because they are too big. But what about those with them ? 

Article link is below along with a transcript of it for those who may have issues accessing the link 

Article: The government has decided that when it comes to air travel, only dogs can be service animals, and companions used for emotional support don’t count.

The Transportation Department issued a final rule Wednesday that aims to settle years of tension between airlines and passengers who bring their pets on board for free by saying they need them for emotional support.

For years, the department required airlines to allow animals with passengers who had a doctor’s note saying they needed the animal for emotional support. Airlines believed passengers abused the rule to bring a menagerie of animals on board including cats, turtles, pigs and in one case, a peacock.

The agency said Wednesday that it was rewriting the rules partly because passengers carrying unusual animals on board “eroded the public trust in legitimate service animals.” It also cited the increasing frequency of people “fraudulently representing their pets as service animals,” and a rise in misbehavior by emotional-support animals.

The new rule will force passengers with emotional-support animals to check them into the cargo hold — and pay a pet fee — or leave them at home. The agency estimated airlines will gain up to $59.6 million a year in pet fees.

Under the final rule, which takes effect in 30 days, a service animal is a dog trained to help a person with a physical or psychiatric disability. Advocates for veterans and others had pushed for inclusion of psychiatric service dogs. Airlines will be able to require owners to vouch for the dog’s health, behavior and training. Airlines can require people with a service dog to turn in paperwork up to 48 hours before a flight, but they can’t bar those travelers from checking in online like other passengers.

Airlines can require that service dogs to be leashed at all times, and they can bar dogs that show aggressive behavior. There have been incidents of emotional-support animals biting passengers.

The Transportation Department stood by an earlier decision to prohibit airlines from banning entire dog breeds. That is a setback for Delta Air Lines, which banned “pit bull type dogs” in 2018, a move that was criticized by disability advocates.

Delta, however, is giving no indication of backing down. In a statement, a Delta spokeswoman said the airline is reviewing the new rule but, “At this time, there are no changes to Delta’s current service and support animal policies

Links is below : 

https://www.pressherald.com/2020/12/02/dogs-only-u-s-tightens-definition-of-service-animals-on-planes/

Ariana & Ned  

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