<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Helvetica;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:8.0pt;
margin-left:0in;
line-height:105%;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
h1
{mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 1 Char";
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:24.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.Heading1Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 1 Char";
mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 1";
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;
font-weight:bold;}
p.msonormal0, li.msonormal0, div.msonormal0
{mso-style-name:msonormal;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
p.video-desc, li.video-desc, div.video-desc
{mso-style-name:video-desc;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
p.speakable-p-1, li.speakable-p-1, div.speakable-p-1
{mso-style-name:speakable-p-1;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
p.speakable-p-2, li.speakable-p-2, div.speakable-p-2
{mso-style-name:speakable-p-2;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
p.p-text, li.p-text, div.p-text
{mso-style-name:p-text;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
span.EmailStyle23
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
span.z-TopofFormChar
{mso-style-name:"z-Top of Form Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"z-Top of Form";
font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;
display:none;}
span.asset-metabar-author
{mso-style-name:asset-metabar-author;}
span.asset-metabar-time
{mso-style-name:asset-metabar-time;}
span.asset-metabar-time-updated
{mso-style-name:asset-metabar-time-updated;}
span.credit
{mso-style-name:credit;}
span.u-hiddenvisually
{mso-style-name:u-hiddenvisually;}
span.z-BottomofFormChar
{mso-style-name:"z-Bottom of Form Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"z-Bottom of Form";
font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;
display:none;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal">Hi all,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Just in case you hadn’t seen this elsewhere… <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nagdu is currently looking into Delta’s new rules, and if it is legal according to the Air Carrier Access Act. As I hear more from Nagdu, I will post any updates.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please share your thoughts and comments. This personally makes my blood boil. I understand how Delta wants to help control the issues they’ve encountered with misbehaved animals on their flights, but I do not feel that the required documents
are fair for service/guide dog users. According to the new rules, we must provide vaccination records (and more) to the airline 48 hours before we travel. I don’t know about for you all, but getting to and from the airport is very expensive and time consuming,
so going an extra time is just ridiculous and unnecessary! Looks like Delta is no longer one of my preferred airlines…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Deanna<o:p></o:p></p>
<h1 style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:25.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">Delta tightens leash on comfort animals on flights, with rules for lack of federal regulation<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="asset-metabar-author"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:105%"><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/staff/2126/bart-jansen/"><span style="color:#4EC4FF;text-decoration:none">Bart Jansen</span></a>, USA TODAY</span></b></span><span class="asset-metabar-time"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:105%;color:#999999;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Published
8:00 a.m. ET Jan. 19, 2018 | </span></span><span class="asset-metabar-time-updated"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:105%;color:#999999;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Updated 1:23 p.m. ET Jan. 19, 2018</span></b></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="video-desc" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:15.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.0pt;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#4C4C4C">Delta Air Lines will be tightening requirements for passengers traveling with onboard service and emotional support animals, following an increased number of animal-related safety issues
on flights over the last several years. <span class="credit">USA TODAY</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="speakable-p-1" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:45.0pt;line-height:16.5pt">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Rather than wait for federal regulation, Delta Air Lines unveiled its own tighter rules Friday for passengers flying with emotional-support animals that increasingly disrupt flights.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="speakable-p-2" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:45.0pt;line-height:16.5pt;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">The rules come as the airline carries about 700 assistance animals each day that the carrier says are increasingly misbehaving by wandering the cabin, defecating or even biting passengers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p-text" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:45.0pt;line-height:16.5pt;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Delta's rules for traveling with service and comfort animals starting March 1 require documentation confirming the safety and necessity of the animal 48 hours before departure.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p-text" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:45.0pt;line-height:16.5pt;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">The passenger must provide a veterinary health form or vaccination record for either category of animals. For comfort animals and psychiatric-service animals, the passenger must also
provide:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p-text" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:45.0pt;line-height:16.5pt;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">♦A letter signed by a doctor or licensed mental-health professional stating the passenger’s need for the animal.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p-text" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:45.0pt;line-height:16.5pt;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">♦A signed letter stating the animal is trained to behave without a kennel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p-text" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:45.0pt;line-height:16.5pt;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">“This new policy is our first step in better protecting those who fly with Delta with a more thoughtful screening process,” said John Laughter, Delta’s senior vice president for corporate
safety, security and compliance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p-text" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:45.0pt;line-height:16.5pt;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Delta carries 180 million passengers a year with about 250,000 service or emotional-support animals.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p-text" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:45.0pt;line-height:16.5pt;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p-text" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:45.0pt;line-height:16.5pt;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">The Americans with Disabilities Act calls designated dogs and miniature horses as service animals, which are trained often to assist the deaf or blind. But the 1986 Air Carrier Access
Act opened the door to a greater variety of animals to accompany a disabled passenger with a doctor's note in any seat, unless the animal obstructs an aisle or another area needed for emergency evacuation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p-text" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:45.0pt;line-height:16.5pt;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Passengers who increasingly bring along comfort animals say they calm them during stressful flights, or alert them to problems such as high or low blood sugar.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p-text" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:45.0pt;line-height:16.5pt;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Delta acknowledged that trained animals typically behave. But the carrier said untrained animals regularly stretch across seats or move about the cabin during flight.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p-text" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:45.0pt;line-height:16.5pt;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Because of a vague definition for what qualifies, Delta said passengers have brought turkeys, possums and snakes on planes as comfort animals.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:0%;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#1C2022"><a href="https://support.twitter.com/articles/20175256" title="Twitter Ads info and privacy"><span class="u-hiddenvisually"><span style="color:#2B7BB9;text-decoration:none">Twitter Ads
info and privacy</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p-text" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:45.0pt;line-height:16.5pt;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Delta said it won't accept those critters as comfort animals any more — or other exotic animals such as hedgehogs, ferrets, reptiles or anything with tusks or hooves.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p-text" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:45.0pt;line-height:16.5pt;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Comfort animals can be discomforting to others. Incidents of animals urinating, defecating and biting, and behaving more aggressively with growling and lunging, have increased dramatically
in recent years, according to the airline.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p-text" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:45.0pt;line-height:16.5pt;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">In one highly publicized case in June, an emotional-support dog bit a neighboring passenger in the face during the boarding of a flight from Atlanta to San Diego.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p-text" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:45.0pt;line-height:16.5pt;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">“The rise in serious incidents involving animals in flight leads us to believe that the lack of regulation in both health and training screening for these animals is creating unsafe
conditions across U.S. air travel,” Laughter said. “We are committed to consistently improving our policies, prioritizing the safety of all Delta customers and employees.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p-text" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:45.0pt;line-height:16.5pt;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">The Transportation Department hosted seven months of negotiations in 2016 to develop regulations to make flights more accessible for the disabled. But the panel of airline and advocacy
experts was unable to reach a consensus on narrowing the definition of what qualifies as a comfort animal.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p-text" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:45.0pt;line-height:16.5pt;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">The <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/dot-negotiated-rulemaking-committee-agrees-future-measures-improve-accessibility"><span style="color:#1990E5;text-decoration:none">department
set a goal</span></a> of proposing a regulation by July 2017, but missed that deadline and now expects to begin collecting comment about the definition in July.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p-text" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:45.0pt;line-height:16.5pt;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, said the union “adamantly supports” Delta’s move. Better regulations are needed to protect the rights of the disabled,
while untrained animals risk the safety, health and security of other passengers and crew, she said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p-text" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:45.0pt;line-height:16.5pt;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">“We are seeing more and more animals in the cabin and it appears there is growing abuse of the system,” Nelson said. “We are hearing a public outcry to stop the abuse.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p-text" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:45.0pt;line-height:16.5pt;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Delta said it developed its policy with feedback from a 15-member advisory board of advocates who are frequent fliers with a range of disabilities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p-text" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:45.0pt;line-height:16.5pt;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">“We have received extensive customer feedback through calls, emails and social posts – many from among those within the disability community – urging Delta to take action," Laughter
said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;color:#4EC4FF;text-decoration:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>
<pre>
--
This email was Malware checked by UTM 9. http://www.sophos.com
Sent from the Clovernook email system</pre>