>>I could be wrong, but since the dog served two tours in Afghanistan I would doubt that he would be spooked by turbulent weather.
But you can’t be certain.
>>You have a good point about other passengers possibly being apprehensive. Perhaps the dog and handler could have boarded last and deplaned first. From what the article said they were going to the DNC for security purposes, not on a pleasure trip.
Oh great. Let’s say you have a fear of large dogs and you get on a plane. Just before they shut the door, they put a large attack dog in the passenger compartment just a few seats away from you. If you make a ruckus to get off, you get arrested. What do you do?
>>I guess because I watched a special about 9/11 prior to reading this article, it crossed my mind that if there had been a couple of military dogs on those flights, things might have turned out very differently.
Really?? You’re invoking the “anything goes, if you can make the claim that it could have prevented 9/11” clause? How many freedoms and inconveniences has that one cost us over the past decade?
There is no such thing as certainty in life.
Let's say they put an air marshall carrying a gun next to you. A lot of people are terrified of guns. They can be in a drawer, unloaded and they still freak out. So anyone sitting next to you MIGHT have a gun. And he might be a kook, who knows. What do you do? I guess because the gun is hidden it is o.k.
The article stated the dog had flown before...and flew the next day. He sat at the front of the plane, as he had in the past, away from other passengers. Would you take the same offense at a service dog flying in the compartment? They generally sit away from other passengers as well.
I am not invoking the anything goes clause at all. I think we agree that we have been deprived of many liberties due to 9/11. I merely stated that a military dog, unleashed, might have been useful and would have been fearless against the people that perpetrated these crimes. Not that the typical citizen wouldn't have been had they armed.
I understand if you don't like big dogs. My own father feels like he has entered purgatory when he comes to my house. Even though he is protected. But just say that.
On a lighter note..I would prefer to sit next to an attack dog than a screaming baby on an airline flight.