Do you think people should be able to claim their pets as emotional support animals if they are untrained?

2015-10-27T00:02:08-04:00

Airline employees are upset about the alleged abuse of people getting their pets recognized as "emotional support animals" even though they have never been trained to be emotional support animals. There are now doctors who for a fee will write the necessary paperwork for your animal to be declared an emotional support animal and they will also issue a ID for your pet as well as a certificate.

People with disabilities also say that this is creating a problem for them because the untrained dogs will engage their trained dogs and behave badly giving true service dogs a poor reputation.

http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/an_uptick_in_service_animals_on_airplanes_is_sparking_controversy

An uptick in service animals on airplanes is sparking controversy

Not long ago, the likelihood of seeing animals flying in first class would have been akin to, as the saying goes, the day "when pigs fly." But nowadays dogs, pigs,

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2015 12:16 AM

2015-10-27T00:16:13-04:00

Wait. Airline employees are upset because there are too many "emotional support animals"? Everyone's feelings need validation and support? Let's buy everyone a freaking binky.
Good grief.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2015 1:07 AM

2015-10-27T01:07:43-04:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member I got a letter from my Doctor (Psychiatrist) that stated my cat is an emotional support animal. That differs from a service dog and my situation the doctors were afraid about ideations. People cannot have it both ways. If a service pet, which are trained, then an emotional support animal then that is preemtive. Now cats are not a store kind of pet, but my situation states my cat(s) can go with me to housing and needs like that and is a factor because so many landlords are less than thrilled and patients really need these. I would not be surprised that some time in the future that Emotional Support Pets will be registration, so people who do not need them will not be able to claim that. If suicidal Veterans, Retirees and Service members need them then the public needs to know, that they can literally save a person's life. Mine did.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Oct 27 at 2015 4:16 AM

2015-10-27T04:16:59-04:00

Our pets ARE emotional support animals!

With that said, I think it's BS that people are trying to get paperwork and ID cards proving it so they can take their (untrained) pets into places that only service animals are allowed (with good reason) into.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Oct 27 at 2015 7:15 AM

2015-10-27T07:15:11-04:00

Yeah, this is a problem.
I love my dog, but I don't want him on an aircraft.
The airlines need to ask up front about the animal being transported. If the animal was not specifically trained for these events a few bad incidents will happen.
Airlines will figure it out and start charging money for room taken up by the animal.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2015 7:31 AM

2015-10-27T07:31:56-04:00

LOL so if this is about the airline complaining? they can actually make money out of it. Just simple supply and demand :).

Response by SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS made Oct 27 at 2015 7:40 AM

2015-10-27T07:40:18-04:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member Ma'am, IMHO, If the untrained Service Animal provides the support and comfort needed, is obedient, and does not become a nuisance I have no issues. Some training, especially obedience, would be better than nothing, but for people to be as comfortable as possible and as long as it doesn't turn into airlines appearing as portable zoos, I am OK with it. My canine companion is trained and I take her some places, others I do not. She likes people and is quite friendly.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2015 8:11 AM

2015-10-27T08:11:11-04:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member As odd as it may sound, I connected with a horse that helped me a lot with PTSD. No I am not going to take him to shopping with me, and his lack of training didn't make him less effective.

And, I didn't ask to take him on the plane with me.

Response by SGT David T. made Oct 27 at 2015 10:21 AM

2015-10-27T10:21:19-04:00

In the case of emotional support animals, I don't think training is needed for them to serve their purpose. I can see training being needed for guide dogs but emotional support animals really don't need to be trained to be effective.

Response by SFC Thomas Howes made Oct 27 at 2015 12:16 PM

2015-10-27T12:16:53-04:00

I FEEL IS THE DOG IS NOT CERTIFIED BY THE DISBILITIES ACT THEY SHOULD NOT BE IN THE CABINE AREA

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Oct 27 at 2015 12:31 PM

2015-10-27T12:31:16-04:00

My therapy elephant is becoming more trouble than she is worth.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Oct 27 at 2015 7:56 PM

2015-10-27T19:56:16-04:00

Yes, it us a growing problem. I fly almost every week and the number of people carrying scruffy in their carry on kennel is a bit much. This is the rough equivalent of Linus and his security blanket. If you cannot leave the house, take a trip, function in society without a furry mammal in your arms/lap etc. you are in real trouble. Sorry, the truth can be brutal. This is another "first world" problem here in America.

The dogs pee in the airport, some are flea infested, others bark and whine incessantly and of course the owners think they should be able to let their pets run all over the airport.

What happened to the good old days where pets rode in the luggage compartment and us humans rode in the cabin?

No issue with working service dogs at all.

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Oct 27 at 2015 7:58 PM

2015-10-27T19:58:28-04:00

Yes. My pets have me very well trained.

Walt

Response by SFC Scott Bodeen made Oct 27 at 2015 8:00 PM

2015-10-27T20:00:12-04:00

Service animals should be trained and certified.

Response by PO3 Deidre Jones made Oct 30 at 2015 1:24 AM

2015-10-30T01:24:13-04:00

They should have some basic training.
They need to be well behaved animals to go out in public.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 30 at 2015 3:45 PM

2015-10-30T15:45:37-04:00

The theory sounds good.

Response by SFC Richard Lee made Oct 31 at 2015 5:30 AM

2015-10-31T05:30:45-04:00

The problem is that no one wants to touch that subject. All service animals have cards, but no one wants to request to see that card, stating rights violation. That's even after I tell them that pit bulls are not trained as service animals. What people don't understand is that service animals are treated differently than emotional support animals, but since no one ask to see the card for the service animal, everyone wants to claim that their emotional support animal is a service animal.

Response by SFC Richard Lee made Nov 4 at 2015 6:04 PM

2015-11-04T18:04:12-05:00

No I don't. If they were, you would have all kind of animals. At least I know that pit bulls are not trained as service animals and the each service animals that is trained has a certification card identifying them as a service animal. Only dogs are trained as service animals and there are no breed of aggressive dogs trained as service animals, an I've noticed that organizations are afraid to ask for the identification card of the service animal. All the other animals that are said to be service animals are just comfort animals.

Response by PV2 Bengie Gonzalz LMHC made Nov 26 at 2015 10:00 AM

2015-11-26T10:00:57-05:00

emotional support is fine, it help the owner. I would encourage them to become a Service Dog handler with the proper training. This way the dog can help them prevent issues.

Response by PV2 Bengie Gonzalz LMHC made Nov 26 at 2015 1:18 PM

2015-11-26T13:18:46-05:00

emotional support dog are not the same as a service dog the ADA has the standard of what a service dog should be. It is a mute issue if the Airlines would read the ADA literature. Service dog and handlers have a constant training program that they should adhere to. What the Airlines can not do is ask what disabilities you have as a service dog handler. Disabilities are protected under the HIPPA law. Also service dog can be any breed as long as it meets the handlers disabilities.