As the popularity of traveling with support animals increases, so too have instances of travel with apparently fraudulent ones. By claiming their pet is a support animal, people avoid the rules and fees imposed on ordinary pets. United Airlines and Delta Airlines have implemented policies that ask veterinarians to vouch for an animal’s behavior before it is allowed on board. Phyllis DeGioia offers perspectives for veterinarians to consider.
Source: VIN News Service, February 27, 2018.
Unlike service dogs, faux support animals are unlikely to be trained specifically for traveling. The trade organization Airlines for America (A4A) believes that the spreading availability online of false emotional-support-animal credentials is fueling a rising number of passengers falsely representing their pets as medically necessary. “As a result, airlines have seen an escalation in the number of complaints and unfortunate incidents, some of which involve animals causing in-flight disturbances,” A4A spokesperson Alison McAfee said. “This negatively impacts our crew, other passengers and those with service animals who genuinely need them.”