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Passengers with livestock may now board the aircraft
Service Animal definition expanded to include livestock

 

From the September 2001 issue of Aviation Today we find a wonderful discussion of flying service animals.

 

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.

 

 


 

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