[ad_1]
The government has decided that when it comes to air travel, only dogs can be service animals, and companions used for emotional support do not count.
The Transportation Department on Wednesday released a final rule that aims to address years of tension between airlines and passengers who bring their pets on board for free saying they need them for emotional support.
For years, the ministry has required airlines to allow pets 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 it was rewriting the rules in part because passengers carrying unusual animals on board “have eroded public confidence in legitimate service animals.” He also cited the increasing frequency of people “fraudulently representing their pets as service animals” and an increase in misbehavior by emotional support animals.
The new rule will require passengers with emotional support animals to check them in – and pay a pet fee – or leave them at home. The agency estimates that airlines will earn up to $ 59.6 million per year in pet fees.
According to the final rule, which takes effect in 30 days, a service animal is a dog trained to help someone with a physical or psychiatric disability. Veterans advocates and others have been pushing for the inclusion of psychiatric service dogs.
Airlines may require owners to guarantee dog health, behavior and training. Airlines can require people with service dogs to hand in documents up to 48 hours before a flight, but they cannot prevent these travelers from checking in online like other passengers.
Airlines can require assistance dogs to be kept on a leash at all times, and they can ban dogs that behave aggressively. Emotional support animals bit passengers.
The Department of Transportation upheld an earlier decision to ban airlines from banning entire dog breeds. It’s a setback for Delta Air Lines, which banned “pit bull-type dogs” in 2018, a move that has been criticized by disability advocates.
Delta, however, gives no indication of recoil. In a statement, a spokesperson for Delta said the airline was reviewing the new rule but, “at this time, there is no change in Delta’s current policies on services and animal support. “
[ad_2]
Source link