Only Dogs Trained to Aid People with Disabilities Will Now Be Considered Service Animals
The U.S. Department of Transportation is firming up their new regulations that specify which animals classify as service animals under the Air Carrier Access Act. According to these new rules, emotional support animals will no longer qualify as service animals for air travel. Now, only dogs trained to aid an individual with a disability will receive the service animal designation. Additionally, service dogs will need to be harnessed, leashed or tethered, and fit within the handler’s foot space. Airlines can limit each passenger with a disability to just two service animals. These new regulations are necessary due to the increased number of animals brought on board planes which have led to a myriad of problems. The Department of Transportation is responding to a growing number of passengers who have falsely represented their pets as service animals.
