However, just like anything good, I think there is a new wave of abuse. The claim that any disability, real or imaginary, qualifies a pet owner to call a dog a service animal, now threatens the practice that has helped so many.
I do a lot of traveling. I've noticed a larger-than-usual number of dogs in the airports and on planes, but not the small dogs in the usual carriers. These are big dogs, like those used to help the blind. Most have "service animal" vests.
Recently I sat next to someone in a waiting area that had a dog in a vest. It was a 60 lb mutt, described on the vest as an "Emotional Support Animal". I overheard the owner say that the dog helped her with her anxiety while flying. I thought that's what cocktails and xanax were for.
On the plane, the dog took an entire seat. He sat, was well behaved and the human didn't seem to anxious.
On the same flight I'm listening to the Adam Carolla Podcast and he talks about the increasing prevalence of service animals on flights, and how the owners seem to have needs that extend beyond the traditional roles of service animals. Strange that he'd notice the same thing-- unless there was something to it.
I investigated further. Basically, if you think you are physically or mentally impaired, your dog (or other pet) qualifies to be a service animal. You don't need a doctor's note or formal evaluation. You just need to buy the vest and ID card. Here's a place that will be happy to help you with that! http://www.freemypaws.com/
The self-assessment test to determine if your pet qualifies as a service animal.
This is just one of many websites where you take a self-assessment test to see if you qualify. It is reasonably hard not to qualify by these standards. The FAQ says that you may opt to get a physician's assessment, in case you are ever challenged. However, with strict statements from the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is unlikely that anyone will say anything.
According to the website, you don't have to register a service animal. You simply claim that it is, that you have a disability, and bingo-- you can take your dog to see a movie.
So while some people need service animals, the unscrupulous traveler now can buy the little vest, claim disability, and travel with Fido for free. Heck, it costs a lot to travel with a dog. It needs a recent vet visit, special certification, at least $100 each way, and it must fit under the seat. This barrier excludes many pets and their owners.
Now any animal can be declared a service animal. Check out the FAQ on the website above. It is your decision if you are disabled, and the company will be happy to sell you everything you need for your pet to accompany you into restaurants, theaters, airplanes and any other public place.
I'm going to extend this practice to humans, who technically are animals. My "Service Wife" will see movies and travel for free, cutting my costs. Plus, she'll look hot in the vest.
The travesty here is that legitimate service animals serve important roles. By opening the floodgates to anyone claiming a problem, we diffuse the definition of a service animal and harm those that need them.
My feeling is that this will be solved as more and more emotional support pit bulls and therapy parrots fly side-by-side with unscrupulous owners. The people that abuse this system are deplorable, as they harm a practice that others depend on strictly for their own convenience.
6 comments:
Very interesting. I sat next to an emotional support animal a couple of months ago and was curious enough to do a bit of research myself. However, I didn't get far enough to see that the service animal could be self-prescribed.
In my case, the animal didn't have its own seat, so perhaps there just happened to be an empty seat next to the dog in your case?
This is also bad news for people like me, who have fur allergies. Unfortunately, there's no service animal to help me deal with that.
In my case the flight attendants moved two people to other seats so that the owner and dog could use the whole row.
I also wondered about pet allergies. When do the needs of some, start to infringe on the needs of others?
I'll defend the right of someone legitimately impaired to maximize access of their service animal. However, I'm seeing quite a few that are assisting in questionable capacities. The woman on my flight seemed just fine. Maybe because of the dog.
The problem is that websites will sell you anything you need to make your dog a service animal. It just opens the opportunity for abuse, and it looks like that may be happening.
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Hi there Kevin. Happy New Year.
Very perceptive and I agree with you. Friends shouldn't let friends abuse the system. On the other hand, I always worry when brachycephalic dogs are transported in cargo. Man has done a huge disservice to dog when s/he engineered the bulldog-- these dogs can't breathe, can't breed, can't birth and would likely go extinct if not for human intervention... The respiratory deformities human engineering created makes them very vulnerable in traveling in cargo--many have been known to die. I think there should also be a system allowing an owner to transport these dogs on the plane if proper fees are paid. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/07/nyregion/banned-by-many-airlines-these-bulldogs-fly-private.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 Anyways, wanted to say "Hi" :)
Actually, you do need a prescription from your doctor. I assume some people fake it, but it takes away credibility from people with invisible disabilities such as myself who has an emotional support dog with a doctors prescription. Just because you can't visibly tell that I am disabled, doesn't mean that I am not. I am on SSDI for my disability and under the care of my psychiatrist. Taking benzodiazepines all day long and drinking are not the best way to handle anxiety, especially if you are prone to chronic anxiety from GAD or bipolar disorder. Maybe you should research before you post your ignorant thoughts to the world.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Just because you have a prescription doesn't mean that everyone does. It also doesn't mean that aren't people abusing the system.
For instance you may be on SSDI legitimately, but there are some people who abuse the system. They many be able to work and don't, because it is easier than getting a job. They are able to work, but they are just too lazy to go out and find one that suits them. They also may like the fact that their money is protected by law from any type of debtor. The system can be abused and probably is being abused, by someone.
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