New Barking Orders For Documenting Support Animals Before Boarding Planes

Capt Dwayne Conyers interesting story.

Interesting since the ADA law specifically states that individuals with Service Dogs "cannot be asked for any kind of documentation" for any Service Animal, and are only allowed a limited number of questions allowed. This case stems from a peacock that was not a Service animal at all, but rather a "comfort/companion" animal, which is not the same thing and not subject to the same access rules as Service animals. Also, the rules change a bit for international flights.

Law also does not require that Service dogs, (or other Service animals) receive any kind of "official" training; you can train your own if you have the knowledge, patience and a couple of years that it takes. Also, by ADA regulations there are no legal Service Animal "certifications" required, although certifications can be purchased via the internet; the only ones benefiting from that is those making the money - the "certification: they aren't worth the paper it's written on, since by law they are not required. Same goes for the "service animal" Vests; not a requirement to be worn, but can be purchased by virtually anyone that wants to buy them. However, I would recommend anyone with an actual Service Dog use the Vests, just for visibility reasons to alert others that this is a working animal not just a pet.

Bear in mind, there is a huge difference between a Service animal and Comfort animals or Therapy animals. Comfort/Companion and Therapy animals for instance do not have the same access rules as Service animals do. They can be denied (and generally are) access to most businesses that Service dogs are allowed.

I agree, some of the laws need to be changed a bit or at least updated. With the existing laws, too many people are taking advantage of the fact that they themselves can designate any animal as a "service: animal, even if it in fact would really be designated a Comfort/ companion animal.

This only applies to civilian scheduled flights - not charter, cargo, general av, or other flights.
Frankly, it is about time!!! Sometimes I feel we should require similarly current medical and psychiatric documents vouching for passengers boarding flights. Warmest Regards, Sandy :)

http://www.iata.org/policy/consumer-pax-rights/Pages/unruly-passengers.aspx