Severe cat allergy- cats allowed on plane!!

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Couldn't you have found a less wordy way to get your point across.....

You can tell when I'm not being paid by the word... can't you?

 

[kevgraub]

I won't argue the statute with you, but if you wish to debate how it's applied on daily basis at airports around the country, we certainly can.

I discuss both the ACAA and the ADA because, unlike airlines, most aiports are run by government entities and follow ADA guidelines with regard to services animals inside public buildings. You are correct in that there are slight differences between the ADA and the ACAA, but recently those have been all but eliminated.

It's not airline SOP to spend more than 60 seconds determining the credibility of the 'disabled' individual. In fact, the 60 seconds is needed not for the determination of credibility but rather for the suspension of disbelief and the suppresion of laughter before allowing the individual to board.

It's not cost effective to follow the rule. Occasionally, I will get a rogue gate agent that, like you, knows his or her ACAA and attempts to apply it quite literally. While I silently commend those agents, the resulting claim that inevitably follows can be a real headache. No airline wants to be perceived as trampling on the rights of the disabled.

Just a little confused now.

Earlier you said;

Like the ADA, the ACAA requires airlines to accept the verbal assurances of the disabled individual that the animal is, in fact, a service animal.

Now it sounds like you are saying that the ACAA does not necessarily require airlines to accept verbal assurances, but instead that it is the way airlines operate so as to speed things up and/or avoid claims being filed against them.

Really not a big deal, and I'm definitely not looking to get into an argument about this. I am curious though, and I would truly like to know. Is it that the airlines are required to accept verbal assurances (i.e. it is against the law for them to seek documentation or proof) or is it just the way airlines do things to avoid the hastles that come with questioning someone with a service animal?

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Can I confuse you further?

Airlines are required to accept the "credible verbal assurances of a qualified individual with a disability using the animal" AS ONE METHOD OF SEVERAL to identify the animal as a service animal.

Keep in mind the presence of a harness is also valid identification. If you would like a list of harness vendors I'm sure they can be found on google.

It's the credibility test in the above scenario that is often green lighted for the purposes of avoiding litigation and/or anti-disability backlash. Your mileage may vary.

Just a little confused now.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

My point was, and still is, that the rules governing access and accommodation for the disabled (both the ACAA and the ADA) are so broad they enable household pet owners with inflated senses of entitlement to exploit/abuse them in order to gain access for those pets to facilities, vehicles and aircraft where they would otherwise not be allowed outside of an approved crate, without charge, or at all.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Can you just see it all now???? Crazed woman chasing a frantic cat through Logan International!!!

I know the name (and, I think, contact information) of the person responsible for security issues if it happens...

 

[Belle102498]

Luckily, there aren't many service cats.

Just give it time. I have seen guide ponies, and guide llamas! I would think there would be guide pigs, but they can't really lift their heads all that far! BTW, my husband is blind, and I have been called the guide wife

I think now that pretty much any animal can be a service animal as long as it is trained by a service training school/trainer.

 

[cigar95]

Believe me...expirateshopgirl knows whereof she speaks. If she states something you can pretty much take it to the bank.

Except, perhaps, for the current policies of the PirateShop!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I know current employees who work in the Pieces of Eight Shop no longer wear the bustline-accentuating blouses and vests we once did.

How do you think I got this far?

Except, perhaps, for the current policies of the PirateShop!

 

[crashbb]

No, they won't. The pet owner is not going to be the one inconvenienced, especially considering that even somebody with severe pet allergies will still not have a reaction, 99.9% of the time, to a pet on a plane. Those with allergies will be the ones that have to take another flight.

Frontier is the only U.S. airline that does not allow pets.

Since pet allergies are covered by the ADA, the allergy if life threatening, does trump pet ownership. Allergies do not, however, trump service dogs. I posted a link in another thread a few days ago, but it basically came down to sitting the people far apart (if that would be safe for both parties) or moving someone to another flight (based on factors other than the disability - for example, when the ticket was purchased).

 

[mousey]

How do you know that the person sitting next to you on the plane doesn't have 5 cats at home and some of their hair or dander has gotten on their clothes?

 

[goofy4tink]

How do you know that the person sitting next to you on the plane doesn't have 5 cats at home and some of their hair or dander has gotten on their clothes?

Hey, my dd really tries to get that stuff off her clothing but once the shirt hits the floor it gets covered in pet leavings!! She tries to keep it clean but teens are well-known for their lack of room cleanliness!!!

Sorry, couldn't resist!

 

[inkkognito]

There is a local lady around here that has a miniature horse as a service animal. We are always seeing her drive around with the horse standing in the back seat of her 4 door car and about a month or so ago, saw her shopping in Walmart with the horse. I am used to seeing service dogs but to actually see a horse walking through Walmart is quite interesting. LOL

There are quite a few minis being used as guide horses for the blind. I actually saw one in person in one of the Cracker Barrels near WDW on 192.

Some airlines will not take verbal assurance. I am a counselor, and I once had a client call me in tears because America West would not take verbal assurance or a letter over a certain length of time old. They wouldn't even take my verbal assurance over the phone. I had to fax a letter, and thank goodness I got it done before the door closed on the plane or she would have been bumped to a later flight.

 

[1PrincessMomma1]

.

 

[DisneyWalker44]

Since pet allergies are covered by the ADA, the allergy if life threatening, does trump pet ownership

If a person has a life threatening allergy to pet dander, they have no business being on a plane in the first place. They are more likely to encounter dander from the clothes of people around them from a potential animal on board.

 

[3girls4me05]

If a person has a life threatening allergy to pet dander, they have no business being on a plane in the first place. They are more likely to encounter dander from the clothes of people around them from a potential animal on board.

Boy this sounds familiar! Very similar to another recent allergy thread. I am highly allergic to cats (dogs less so). Some would say life threatening since it triggers an asthma attack and that in itself can get life threatening (especially trapped in a plane with little medical help). However fur on someone's clothing will not typically trigger an attack (although I still think it is gross when someone has clothes on covered in cat hair ). It is the dander that does me in but even worse is their salvia. The actual cat has to be present or spend a ton of time in the space (like someone's home). Now I am not going to raise a fuss. I am glad I know now so I can take meds before I board to try to prevent the allergen from starting an attack (stopping it before it starts works better than taking it after the attack has started). If I ever find someone next to me has a cat in a carrier then I would ask to get moved far away though.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

This sounds like it was an "emotional support" animal and not a service animal accompanying someone with a qualifying disability.

Some airlines will not take verbal assurance. I am a counselor, and I once had a client call me in tears because America West would not take verbal assurance or a letter over a certain length of time old. They wouldn't even take my verbal assurance over the phone. I had to fax a letter, and thank goodness I got it done before the door closed on the plane or she would have been bumped to a later flight.

 

[dis-happy]

I know I was a basketcase just having to take the cat out at security.

so that when I took Domino out at security, she couldn't get spooked and jump out of my arms!!!

My mom has to travel with her cat regularly and still LOL at one experience w/ TSA. Was told she had to take cat out of carrier to walk through the sensors. Then was told by TSA that he needed to pat down the cat. My mom raised her eyebrows at that one. During the pat down, the cat (a sleek Burmese) glommed onto TSA agent, silently sinking her claws into his neck. As the drops of blood slowly seeped out onto his white starched collar, he said through clenched teeth, "you can take the cat back now". And off they went.


Anyway, slightly back on topic: my issue with all the pets travelling (and there does seem to be more these days) is with all the dogs (non-service) I see being walked on leashes around the airports. Where are they "doing their thing"? I can imagine the nightmare it's been for the airport janitors.

 

[inkkognito]

This sounds like it was an "emotional support" animal and not a service animal accompanying someone with a qualifying disability.

Yes, without going into detail (due to client privacy) this was one of those cases where there was a fine line. She has a qualifying disability, but it would depend on how you define trained tasks to mitigate the disability vs. providing emotional support...it's an interesting and evolving gray area.

 

[eeyoregon]

Strapping on my flame-proof panties:

With the exception of service animals, anything with 4 legs should be below in the cargo hold, period. Next thing you know there will be chickens and sheep roaming the aisles like on buses in 3rd world countries. If the cabins of planes were designed for animals, there would be kennels instead of overhead compartments. Leave Fido and Fluffy at home or drive.

TTFN

 

[goofy4tink]

Strapping on my flame-proof panties:

With the exception of service animals, anything with 4 legs should be below in the cargo hold, period. Next thing you know there will be chickens and sheep roaming the aisles like on buses in 3rd world countries. If the cabins of planes were designed for animals, there would be kennels instead of overhead compartments. Leave Fido and Fluffy at home or drive.

TTFN

Sometimes it just isn't an option. As I said earlier, there are times of year the airlines will not allow an animal in the cargo area. Either too hot or too cold on the tarmac. Besides, I won't put my pet in cargo...way too much room for error.
This whole discussion about person A's rights vs person B's is just silly. There just aren't that many people with deathly allergies to animals. Uncomfortable? Yes. I'm allergic to cats...can't touch one and then touch my face. I break out in a horrible rash, eyes swell up, trouble breathing. BUT...I choose to have 3 cats but remember to wash my hands after petting them.
I fully realize this isn't an option for some people. But....my issue is this..if I book my seat on a plane, 6 months before I travel, if I pay to have my cat/dog with me, under the seat in an approved carrier, then why in God's name should I be bumped in order for someone with an allergy to be able to fly 'safely'?? Sorry but that just isn't fair. That person should be alerted to the fact that there is already a cat/dog on that flight and then they can choose to take another flight or take a chance on the cat/dog flight. I do appreciate that there are people with health concerns and they should have their rights respected. But what about the rights of those with no issues??? I book a flight months in advance and then am told I can't fly on that flight because someone 'may' have an allergy concern with my cat/dog that is 15 rows behind them??? Sorry but I think that's unreasonable.