Posted on 08/15/2019 5:05:34 AM PDT by ConservativeMind
Miniature horses are among the service animals approved to take on flights, according to new guidelines provided Thursday by the federal government.
Service animals on planes has been the subject of much debate over the past several years, especially when the animal is a little exotic. To curb some of the debate, the U.S. Department of Transportation clarified which common service animals should almost always be allowed.
With respect to animal species, we indicated that we would focus our enforcement efforts on ensuring that the most commonly used service animals (dogs, cats, and miniature horses) are accepted for transport as service animals, the department said in a statement.
Here's a miniature horse on a plane pic.twitter.com/1aSt94nvDW
James Kelleher (@etienneshrdlu) October 22, 2016 While not as common as dogs, miniature horses are known to make great service animals. They can live as long as 35 years, generally stand about 2 to 3 feet tall and weigh around 100 pounds when fully grown.
This doesnt mean that all airlines are now obligated to board therapy miniature horses by law, but if they decide to ignore the new guideline, they could face a penalty.
The statement clarifies that animals outside of dogs, cats and miniature horses must be accepted or denied flight on a case-by-case basis.
Airlines will not be subject to punishment for denying access to service animals like snakes, reptiles, ferrets, rodents and spiders, according to the DOT.
The airlines have approximately 30 days to review and revise company policies in order to comply with the new regulations.
Just proves you and I watch way too much TV.
lol
Emotional Support Alligators
I demand they raise the roof to accommodate my full sized service giraffe. Can’t have him getting neck cramps on the flight.
“Well, Id think they would have to plane side check the horse in that case.”
And that’s the reality of the stupidity. If they are allowed, and they are, to bring the large animal on to the actual seating areas, this is where the headache begins.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) used to allow each airline to decide if they will allow you to travel with your pet in the passenger cabin. With this ruling, there is going to be a problem with animal size in this case. If an airline does allow you to bring your pet into the cabin, you consider your pet container to be carry-on baggage and you must follow all carry on baggage rules (14 CFR part 121, section 121.589):
Your pet container must be small enough to fit underneath the seat without blocking any person’s path to the main aisle of the airplane.
Your pet container must be stowed properly before the last passenger entry door to the airplane is closed in order for the airplane to leave the gate.
Your pet container must remain properly stowed the entire time the airplane is moving on the airport surface, and for take off and landing.
You must follow flight attendant instructions regarding the proper stowage of your pet container.
These rules still apply because they are safety and security issues consistent with flying airlines, so it is going to be interesting how each airline handles “big Brother’s” determination.
rwood
Heres a concept. Leave the pets at home.
My wife and I were at a higher end airport lounge this week, and two dogs came past us. The handler for the one I took note of was an athletic lady, probably 45, with a similar guy. Both were in jogging attire and neither appeared to have any issues.
They just wanted to bring their pet on the plane. Emotional support animals should be banned. If you cant handle a plane ride without your pet, you have issues to big to allow on a plane.
I wonder how feasible it would be for the airlines to designate flights as “service” animal friendly and no “service” animals allowed. At least then the people who don’t want to fly with animals in the cabin would have an option if they booked their flight soon enough to get a seat.
Yeah.
No kidding.
“I demand they raise the roof to accommodate my full sized service giraffe. Cant have him getting neck cramps on the flight”
If they don’t accommodate my service dolphin with a saltwater tank, I will sue them for every penny they have.
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