Comfort Dog
 

I was recently on a Delta Flight to TV and there was a woman sitting across from me in first class with a "comfort dog".

I'm not kidding!

Give me a break!

I told my wife on our next flight I want to take my comfort donkey with me. Ha. When is all this ridiculousness going to end?

Wait a minute....hold on. You're complaining about someone having a comfort dog....but I'm looking at you're picture and you've got your dog dressed in fatigues with an ammo belt??? :1rotfl:

Would you be making fun if that person was a combat veteran dealing with PTSD? Just like you can't always see why someone qualifies for a disabled parking permit, you can't always see why someone qualifies for a service/companion/comfort dog.

It was her Halloween costume.

Unfortunately, she died about 4 months ago.

I miss her every day.

I'm still against comfort dogs.

I happen to be quite allergic to dogs. Is that fair to me?

Normally, I don't get involved with dog threads but I am intrigued how you can be allergic to dogs when you use to have a dog? How did you manage your allergies being a dog owner?

Condolences to losing your beloved pet.

I'm sorry you're dog passed.

Please don't condemn someone for having a comfort dog. They are used in many capacities nowadays. They can tell if someone is going to seizure, PTSD as another poster mentioned, etc,etc.

When I lived in Virginia, I used to fly back and forth to Michigan with my cat. My cat's flight often cost more than my flight did. They have strict restrictions on an animal flying in the cabin.

Cheetah was approved for the Pets On Wheels program in Virginia. That meant he had a medical and behavioral test so he could visit patients in nursing homes every weekend. His disposition came in very handy when one of our flights was delayed because another plane lost its hydraulic system on the runway. Cheetah entertained all the kids at the gates for over five hours. I can't tell you how many parents thanked me.

I started driving back and forth when I got a second cat.

Great story. Sounds like Cheetah saved the day! :)

Guess that person will fit right in at The Villages 'cause most of us LOVE dogs be they comfort, seeing eye, rescue, mutts, or anything in between. Get over it.

I had monthly allergy shots for 14 1/2 years plus oral allergy meds PRN.

She was worth it but if a dog is on a plane and I have not premeditated, it is a big deal for me.

That's confusing...but my condolences on the loss of your sweet pup.

Edited: Oh, so you were willing to go through all that in order to have a pet...but you begrudge someone else having a comfort dog on a plane with you, without even knowing their disability?

If you are on a plane and have an allergy to dogs, you may ask that the person and dog be reseated. Trust me on this..I worked for an airline and know this to be true. We travel with our dog..he goes under the seat (for a very stiff fee). Most people never know he is there. I did once have a seat mate object and I was moved to another seat. It just isn't really that big of a deal. If you truly object, just say so and you will be accommodated.

What I meant was is it fair to me to have an animal on the plane, sitting across from me, that I am allergic to.

People don't eat peanuts on the plane when someone has a peanut allergy.

Are you saying I should premeditate myself to fly in case there is going to be a comfort dog? Should peanut allergy sufferers do the same so everyone else on the plane can enjoy peanuts?

Additionally, anyone may take a cabin pet onboard the plane. The rules are generally that the pet must be less than 20 pounds, be in an approved carrier that fits under the seat in front of you. The pet is not allowed out of its carrier. The fee on the airline I use is 125.00 each way. A service or comfort pets fits many definitions. There are pets for seeing impaired, hearing impaired, epileptic, autistic and PTS. You may ask what service the pet performs but you may not ask what a persons disability is. This is all spelled out in the Americans with Disabilities Act. A service pet may be of any size and weight and does not pay a fee to travel.

Should a blind person be denied entry onto a plane with his/her seeing-eye dog because someone on the plane might be allergic to dogs? Yes, I think you should pre-medicate yourself if your allergies to dogs might cause a problem with service dogs.

Thanks for the clarification. I tip my hat to you for your dedication and devotion while dealing with your allergies.

She's adorable in the picture. Take comfort in knowing you gave her a good home and all the fond memories.

So, should people with peanut allergies premeditate?

Technically, you could have had 6 dogs on your flight in cages. 4 in cabin and 2 in business class....and that doesn't include the therapy dogs. So yes, to be safe you should medicate before any flight.

You really shouldn't confuse people with facts. LOL. You know the facts..actually it varies by size of the aircraft and there could be even more than you mentioned. Most people don't even notice the pets on flights but trust me, they are there.

Well, the airlines stopped serving peanuts several years ago because of allergies...but yes, I guess if someone has a peanut allergy, they certainly need to be prepared for exposure, whether it be pre-medicating or having an epi. But we're not talking about snacks..we're talking about people who have a legally designated service animal which they need to have with them vs a person who may have an allergy to that animal. You have the ability to pre-medicate, whereas the disabled person does not have the ability to function without their service animal.

The last few flights I've been on still serve peanuts which sometimes I bring my own. No one ever told me to put them away.Only recently I learned I can bring nips on a plane. Who knew.

I don't mind premeditating but I think other people e.g. peanut allergy sufferers, should do likewise.

Perhaps if you _*had*_ premedi t ated yourself you would not be this distraught over the needs of another passenger.

Well, that is part of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 and was signed into law by George Bush and amended to make it more encompassing in 2008 by George W. Bush.

Of course, there is a lot of fraud with it as people try and have their pets fly free by claiming they are needed for calming their problems. As with any law, there are those who want to play the system to suit their wants.

You have hit the nail on the head and this is exactly why I brought the whole issue up in the first place.
By the way, in regards to another person posting, my computer corrects premedicate with premeditate. Ha ha . So funny.

Flying in the US today reminds me of flying in a 3rd world cargo plane. Dog, cats, goats, cargo, bags everywhere. I hate to fly.

I think the key there is, "If I have not pre-medicated". You can bring your meds with you. You can choose airlines who do not fly dogs in the cabin, or choose a different mode of transportation. A pet owner who is following the airline's policies is doing nothing wrong. Comfort pets make a huge difference on peoples' lives. You might not like it, but you do have multiple ways to avoid them.

This little blurb should be in Readers Digest, under "Life in the United States"

Might net you some cash.:024:

At least THEY don't make you take off your shoes and belt!!:police::clap2::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Some need to premedicate AND premeditate. Meditation will help you chill.

Just a little side note that some may find interesting. We almost always fly with our dog and yes, he is a paying passenger. When going thru security I have always had to remove him from his travel bag and carry him thru the metal detector. About six months ago they started asking me to step aside while the swab my hands for explosives. Out of curiosity I asked about the new policy. Yup, they have had treats of someone filling the pet with explosives with intent to detonate it later. Jeesh! What will they think of next?

If you read the news you will see that many of our vets (men and women) are being treated for PTSD with animals, mainly dogs. Some adults and children have animals that are vital to their health for many reasons. To callously condemn someone traveling with a pet and assume they are frauds is sad to me.

Comfort dogs do not meet the standard for service animals under the provisions of the ADA. In fact, they are specifically excluded.

Village Chicken is right. Comfort animals are not service animals but airlines will allow them to fly free under certain conditions spelled out clearly in their policies.

In order to travel with a "comfort animal", a person must have a recent letter - on letterhead - from a mental health professional. This is to separate the legitimate from the frauds. All the major airlines have that policy.

The animal must either sit on the persons lap or at their feet - not in a separate seat. Hence, your pet donkey will not be allowed as a comfort -ss.

Rats. How about a comfort monkey.

i understand the need for comfort dog,,, i luv animals but they are still animals an are not equals on the food chain

Why?