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Passengers with
livestock may now board the aircraft
Service Animal definition
expanded to include livestock
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Dan Shaw and his Guide Animal flying commercial. |
This issue discusses the expanded definition of service animals
to include emotional support animals and the types of animals
appropriate for flying in USA commercial aircraft, The article
discusses Cuddles the miniature Guide Horse and other animals who
have the right to accompany their disabled owners.
Functions of service animals
- Guide dogs & miniature horses for persons who have visual
impairments.
- Hearing and signal animals (e.g., dogs, cats, monkeys, pigs)
for persons who have physical disabilities.
- Animals for persons with physical disabilities (e.g., dogs,
cats, monkeys, pigs).
- Seizure-response/alert animals (e.g., dogs, cats, birds) who
alert individuals with seizure disorders to on oncoming seizure.
- Emotional support animals (e.g., dogs, cats) who assist
persons with severe emotional or mental disabilities (e.g.,
autism). In contrast, therapy animals.... not specifically trained
to perform a function for a particular person, are not considered
service animals (and) would not be afforded access rights under
ADA (the Americans With Disabilities Act).
Types of service animals
- Monkeys are sometimes used as service animals (and) are taught
to perform many of the same functions as service dogs, such as
retrieving dropped items...a bus system in Florida reports that it
has a passenger who travels with a monkey, who deposits the fare
into the farebox. As with service dogs, a monkey should have a
harness of leash so that it is under the control of its handler at
all times.
- Pigs are very smart are sometimes used as service animals. Pot
bellied pigs are small and favored as service animals by persons
who are allergic to dogs. The New York City Transit Authority has
passenger who travels as a service pig.
Typically, such animals are
defined as any guide dog or other animal "individually trained to
work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability." These
tasks include the well-known "seeing eye" function performed by dogs
for guiding individuals with impaired vision.
Service animals do not have to be
"certified," per se, and indeed carriers may not insist on any
"proof" of certification under the provisions of the 1986 Air
Carriers Access Act and of the 1990 Americans With Disabilities Act
(ADA). However, they cannot simply be pets.
Under the ADA, all service
animals (not just guide dogs) must be allowed access to public
facilities and transportation vehicles, violation of which is a
misdemeanor. However, they may not occupy seats. |
