here is the link -
http://www.sfgate.com/health/article/Pets-don-t-meet-definition-of-therapy-animals-4622275.php
Laurie - 10 years ago
According to this article an emotional support dog doesn't meet the ADA requirements.
JD - 10 years ago
I am a bit on the fence about this. I find myself with a seizure dog now.
Let me briefly back up a bit...
I used to be a flight attendant for American Airlines for years. I always traveled with my small chihuahua in her travel bag on my off days. She is extremely socialized and sweet. I never ever thought she would become a seizure dog, much less did I ever think I would even need a seizure dog.
It was August 13, 2012, I was on my way back from an event in St Louis. I was flying on a private jet, as I had left American Airlines a few years earlier and started my own company. Upon boarding, my dog, who did not need to be in a carrier started barking and clawing at my chest (neither she had ever done before...she is NOT a barker and is NOT one to claw). Unusual, she LOVES to fly. Unaware what she was trying to tell me, I stood up and began walking toward the stairs of the aircraft. My dog followed but continued to act strangely. I picked her up and she started clawing my face. I put her in her bag, got on the plane, turned to put her bag on the seat when IT happened. My first of what would become many grand mal seizures. The next thing I remember was waking in an ambulance racing to the hospital. I was there a week. They discovered I have brain cancer. From that moment on, the pilots and crew of that plane realized my dog was going to be my seizure dog. They told my dogs story to the docs and paramedics. She still tells me to this very day about 10 minutes before seizures happen. It is probably our bond in which she senses my body's chemical change before they happen. I am blessed to have her.
If an airborne dog is in the midst of protecting his or her master from what they are innately trained or professionally trained to do, then I would recommend to everyone NOT to pet, bother, disturb or engage the dog.
With that said, it is the owners RESPONSIBILITY to keep the dog under control under normal circumstances. I worked as a crew member for 10 years. Crew and passengers blow things out of proportion. I would like to know more details of this flight before passing judgement. My dog has never bit anyone nor is aggressive. However, if I were about to have a grand mal seizure and someone came up to her and began petting her and disturbing her from what her duties are during a harrowing time, I cannot guarantee that my seizure dog would not respond aggressively out of protecting me as most of you know what happens when a seizure happens. My wonderful dog sits by me as they happen and barks getting attention of those around to help if needed. Just keep in mind, working dogs are just that, working. Do NOT disturb or distract them from that. I do not allow people to pet my dogs in public places if I am traveling or alone because I consider them working. My second dog is also able to detect my seizures. If I am around other people I know, then I relax more and allow my dogs to be pets as humans I know and trust can help, and I think my dogs sense that.
As for comfort dogs, I am admittedly not versed to speak on them. I can share my own experience as both a long time dog owner and now the proud owner of a pet that has become my life saver. I still have brain cancer. I still battle seizures. I just flew American recently and had a wonderful experience. I had my youngest dog who somehow, (maybe being around the older one) catches most of my seizures within about a 5 minute warning. He reacts differently by licking my wrist (the location it feels that the seizures show up most). He does not lick me there otherwise. I did have a small seizure on the aircraft that evening and he did his duty and the wonderful passenger sitting next to me told the flight attendant who came with juice and water when it was over. We did not have to divert and no one made a big deal about it. I told both the passenger beside me and the FA what he does and how he works so they would be aware. Glad I did. Thanks for listening. Namaste
here is the link -
http://www.sfgate.com/health/article/Pets-don-t-meet-definition-of-therapy-animals-4622275.php
According to this article an emotional support dog doesn't meet the ADA requirements.
I am a bit on the fence about this. I find myself with a seizure dog now.
Let me briefly back up a bit...
I used to be a flight attendant for American Airlines for years. I always traveled with my small chihuahua in her travel bag on my off days. She is extremely socialized and sweet. I never ever thought she would become a seizure dog, much less did I ever think I would even need a seizure dog.
It was August 13, 2012, I was on my way back from an event in St Louis. I was flying on a private jet, as I had left American Airlines a few years earlier and started my own company. Upon boarding, my dog, who did not need to be in a carrier started barking and clawing at my chest (neither she had ever done before...she is NOT a barker and is NOT one to claw). Unusual, she LOVES to fly. Unaware what she was trying to tell me, I stood up and began walking toward the stairs of the aircraft. My dog followed but continued to act strangely. I picked her up and she started clawing my face. I put her in her bag, got on the plane, turned to put her bag on the seat when IT happened. My first of what would become many grand mal seizures. The next thing I remember was waking in an ambulance racing to the hospital. I was there a week. They discovered I have brain cancer. From that moment on, the pilots and crew of that plane realized my dog was going to be my seizure dog. They told my dogs story to the docs and paramedics. She still tells me to this very day about 10 minutes before seizures happen. It is probably our bond in which she senses my body's chemical change before they happen. I am blessed to have her.
If an airborne dog is in the midst of protecting his or her master from what they are innately trained or professionally trained to do, then I would recommend to everyone NOT to pet, bother, disturb or engage the dog.
With that said, it is the owners RESPONSIBILITY to keep the dog under control under normal circumstances. I worked as a crew member for 10 years. Crew and passengers blow things out of proportion. I would like to know more details of this flight before passing judgement. My dog has never bit anyone nor is aggressive. However, if I were about to have a grand mal seizure and someone came up to her and began petting her and disturbing her from what her duties are during a harrowing time, I cannot guarantee that my seizure dog would not respond aggressively out of protecting me as most of you know what happens when a seizure happens. My wonderful dog sits by me as they happen and barks getting attention of those around to help if needed. Just keep in mind, working dogs are just that, working. Do NOT disturb or distract them from that. I do not allow people to pet my dogs in public places if I am traveling or alone because I consider them working. My second dog is also able to detect my seizures. If I am around other people I know, then I relax more and allow my dogs to be pets as humans I know and trust can help, and I think my dogs sense that.
As for comfort dogs, I am admittedly not versed to speak on them. I can share my own experience as both a long time dog owner and now the proud owner of a pet that has become my life saver. I still have brain cancer. I still battle seizures. I just flew American recently and had a wonderful experience. I had my youngest dog who somehow, (maybe being around the older one) catches most of my seizures within about a 5 minute warning. He reacts differently by licking my wrist (the location it feels that the seizures show up most). He does not lick me there otherwise. I did have a small seizure on the aircraft that evening and he did his duty and the wonderful passenger sitting next to me told the flight attendant who came with juice and water when it was over. We did not have to divert and no one made a big deal about it. I told both the passenger beside me and the FA what he does and how he works so they would be aware. Glad I did. Thanks for listening. Namaste