Service Dogs on Airplanes to Get More Scrutiny From Department of Transportation
Skift Take
Passengers playing fast and loose with the rules in order to stay close to their pets and save a little money, too, further degrade the already degraded flying experience.
Some flyers are taking advantage of the restrictions placed on airlines by federal disability laws and claiming their pets are emotional support animals so they can avoid in-cabin pet fees and keep their furry friends by their side, disability groups and pet advocates say.
This practice not only flouts federal regulations and cheats the airline out of fees ranging from $75 to $250 for bringing pets into the cabin. It also tarnishes the reputation of real service dogs, critics argue.
Caught in the middle are airlines left with the responsibility of verifying a service dog's legitimacy or face hefty fines for failing to accommodate passengers with disabilities.
The U.S. Department of Transportation is starting to pay more attention to this touchy issue. In June, the DOT began tracking complaints related to service animals by institut
