Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Thursday, January 23, 2020

DOT Issues Proposal Defining Dogs as Service Animals on Aircraft

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is seeking public comment on a proposal issued Wednesday defining what can and cannot be labeled a service animal on an aircraft.

The DOT explicitly defined a service animal as as “a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.”

Because of this definition, airlines have greater choice in whether to allow a dog to stay in the cabin with its owner. The DOT said the definition was restricted to dogs because other animals, such as miniature horses, “are not flexible” on an aircraft.

The agency also put additional limits on 'emotional support' animals, saying that while these animals can be recognized as service animals, “airlines do not have to recognize them.”

More

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Do you mean that I can't take my pet companion scorpion on the plane with me?

Anonymous said...


What?? You mean Fluffy the Poodle is *not* a real service animal?

Anonymous said...

They need to do this because ugly Hillary Clinton was refused a seat on a plane since she looks like a Donkey.

Anonymous said...

Dogs need a Union