Department of Transportation Service Animal Relief Attestation. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Behavior and Training Attestation Form (3) U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Health Form (2) U.S. New documentation guidelines: “Airlines would be permitted to require passengers with a disability traveling with a service animal to complete and submit to the airline the following forms developed by DOT as a condition of transportation: (1) U.S.As a result, airlines would no longer be required to accommodate miniature horses, cats, rabbits, birds, and all other service animals that airlines are currently required to transport.” A species limitation: “Under the Department’s proposed rule, airlines would only be required to transport dogs as service animals.Airlines would be permitted to treat emotional support animals, which are not trained to do work or perform a task for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability, as pets.” A recognition of ESAs as pets: “The Department’s proposed rulemaking does not require airlines to recognize emotional support animals as service animals.A revised definition of the term “service animal”: “The Department proposes to define a service animal as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.”.In early 2020, the Department of Transportation gave a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to update regulations when traveling with a service animal. Related: The best travel cards of June 2020 There is a difference between emotional support and service animals. On the surface, that means that all service and support animals traveling with their owner fall under the umbrella term “service animal.” However, there are additional provisions for emotional support animals (ESAs) and psychiatric support animals (PSAs), including such forms of verification, such as letters from mental health professionals and vet records, among others. “A service animal is any animal that is individually trained or able to provide assistance to a person with a disability or any animal that assists persons with disabilities by providing emotional support.”
Since we’re talking about flying, which falls under the ACAA’s jurisdiction, here’s its definition:
The Americans With Disabilities Act has one definition for service animals, and the Air Carrier Access Act has another. Related: TPG’s beginner’s guide: everything you need to know about points, miles, airlines and credit cards In contrast, animals used for emotional or psychiatric support require additional verification as designated by individual airlines. If used for any other purpose than emotional or psychiatric support, a service animal requires no additional documentation or advance notice (except on flights lasting eight hours or more). The essential definition is this: A service animal helps a person with a disability. As an owner of a service animal, it drives me crazy when people mistake one for the other.