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

Tue Feb 18 09:51:02 UTC 2020

Hi Lauren, 

Thank you for your response. Yes, I definitely echo your same concerns. I too have witnessed many poorly behaved dogs in airports and have been told by airline personnel that because the person says that it is a service animal, there is nothing that they can do to intervene. if they are requiring people to have their veterinarians complete these forms prior to flying, I am really concerned that when a dog is poorly behaved in an airport, airline personnel will now just say that the person has a form signed by their veterinarian stating that the dog is a fully task trained service animal and therefore, there is nothing that the airline personnel can do to intervene.  like you, I have no idea how a veterinarian can determine a dog’s behavior in an airport while the veterinarian is observing the dog’s behavior at a vet clinic. Furthermore, as far as I am aware, veterinarians are not animal behavior experts and certainly do not have the expertise to determine whether or not a dog has been fully task trained to mitigate a persons disability. anyway, thank you for your response, I appreciate it. For expediency sake, I will probably just have my veterinarian complete the form. However, do you know where I would go to file a complaint with the department of transportation? I would like to file a complaint with the DOT as you suggested.

Thank you,

Milissa

> On Feb 17, 2020, at 8:10 PM, Lauren Bishop <laurenbishop96 at icloud.com> wrote:
> 
> Good Evening,
> No, these forms are not legal. I would consider filing a complaint with the DOT. These forms are absolutely rediculous and dont determine an animals fitness to fly.   The airlines do not understand that observing the behavior of the animal and handler are the best defense against poorly trained service and support animals. It is my concern that Poor service animal behavior may not be addressed because the passenger has a form signed by a veterinarian stating that the animal can behave in public. I have found through personal experience that when you go to an airline representative with concerns about a poorly behaved animal in an airport, their reaction is, ” Well, it has a service dog vest, so we have to let it on the plane.” The staff really need more training. I am really not sure what to do in your situation. If it is feasible for you, It  probably be easier in the long run to get the form filled out by your vet. Explain to the office that this is a service animal and you need the form to fly. They may not charge you for a simple signature. I would carry the forms with you, but not change your travel routine. I would not volunteer forms or give them to the representatives when they request. I would definitely try to educate them, but if things startgetting particularly nasty, or it looks like you are not going to be able to fly without the forms, then show them.    I wish you the best of luck, and I hope you enjoy your trip.
> Sincerely,
> Lauren
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Feb 17, 2020, at 7:26 PM, mwelch8877--- via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> 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
>> 
>> 
>> 
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