US tightens definition of service animals allowed on planes
Associated PressThe days of pets flying with their owners in airplane cabins for free are coming to an end. The agency said Wednesday that it was rewriting the rules partly because passengers carrying unusual animals on board “eroded the public trust in legitimate service animals.” It also cited the increasing frequency of people “fraudulently representing their pets as service animals,” and a rise in misbehavior by emotional-support animals, ranging from peeing on the carpet to biting other passengers. Delta Air Lines says it carried about 250,000 animals including service dogs in 2017 and about 600,000 last year. Airlines for America, a trade group for the biggest U.S. carriers, said the new rule will protect passengers and airline employees while helping people travel with trained service dogs. The Transportation Department stood by an earlier decision to prohibit airlines from banning entire dog breeds as service animals.
History of this topic
Delta Air gives passenger’s first-class seat to dog; flyer says ‘Just got downgraded for a dog’, airline responds
Live Mint
Airlines can form their own policies on pets carriage: DGCA
Live Mint
Should pets be allowed on planes? Change in Australian law prompts fierce debate
The Independent
United joins rivals in dropping emotional-support animals
Associated Press
American Airlines is grounding emotional-support animals
Associated PressDiscover Related
