Qantas Refuse "Assistance" dog

[Dannyism]

In some cases it has been used as a ruse to transport their pet.

In some cases..... haha

Unfortunately I suspect it's most cases.

 

[Denali]

I once had a flight and a guy had a egg tray of eggs on his lap for the entire flight. No carry on except for the tray of eggs that he kept on his lap even during takeoff/landing.

Still wonder about that.

 

[therudies86]

@therudies86 thanks for that explanation. Can you say if accredited ADs wear anything to identify them as such?

A nice summary of Queensland practice is at Choosing a guide, hearing or assistance dog | People with disability | Queensland Government and legislation is at About guide, hearing and assistance dogs legislation

Answering your query:
"The person must display their approved handler identity card, or have it is available for inspection, and ensure their dog has the blue and white cloth badge on its harness or identifying coat. "

 

[JohnM]

@therudies86 thanks for that explanation. Can you say if accredited ADs wear anything to identify them as such?

Certainly the dog of my colleague with PTSD wore a 'jacket' identifying the dog as an accredited AD.

 

[RichardMEL]

These jackets and certificates can be bought online easily (see the USA mess).. this is why QF is right to only accept animals trained to an accepted standard by appropriate organisations. This one doesn't meet the required standards.

I have no doubt in this particular case she needs the dog for suppor for her needs and I appreciate the angst this would cause her, but the flip side is that if her dog is on the flight and does a poop on the seat or in the aisle, or bites someone, the outcry would be just as bad imo.

I mean this is why they have training to the level of guide dgs and the like.

Not all assistance animals are created equal and I appreciate QF drawing a line. Even VA accepts mindDgs on a "case by case basis" - so it's hardly cut and dried.

 

[woodborer]

I guess people are trying to blur the lines between and 'assistance animal' and an emotional support animal.

I have no issue with properly trained and accredited assistance animals being on planes. But let's leave it at that and not open the floodgates.

 

[DC3]

Certainly the dog of my colleague with PTSD wore a 'jacket' identifying the dog as an accredited AD.

Yes, although some pet shops sell similar, for anyone to purchase.

 

[RichardMEL]

I have a friend in the US whoose mother bought one of these jackets for her (VERY) untrained dog with the specific intent to use it "So I can take my dog anywhere" (planes not mentioned - I htink she has a fear of flying)... and that, right there, sums up how bad the US has gotten with this.

I am not saying at all that there are people with absolute and genuine need.. like people suffering from PTSD or have the dogs that can sense seizures and the like being so very important - and I'm all for them travelling with those animals.. but I absolutely agree that these need to be trained to a high standard - both for people on aircraft and the dogs themselves, to handle the condtions.. both stability and training to control things like toileting needs as well as agression and so on. This is not something you can ge from a pet shop or an organisation that says they'll certify the dog for X use, but not dealing with all the other stuff. In a confined space like a plane, or bus or train or whatever how these assistance animals behave directly affects others and thus the need for proper training to an agreed and documented standard. IMO QF is totally in the right here. If MindDOG trains to the appropriate standards then fine all good. Seems like QF has been upfront and clear about the requirements.

 

[p--and--t]

some reading for those who are interested

Fake assistance animals and their users gaming the system and increasing prejudice

Fake assistance animals and their users are gaming the system and increasing prejudice against people with disabilities who genuinely require these animals, write Paul Harpur, Martie-Louise Verreynne and Nancy Pachana.

www.abc.net.au

 

[p--and--t]

If the news reports are anything to go by, obviously Qantas are the bad people in this situation.

I mean fancy Qantas asking the passenger to comply with the regulations and clearly set out rules ,and Qantas only working back and forth with her for weeks in an effort to help her get the right paperwork in place.

Just as an aside: The passenger felt it necessary to plead her case in social media to lambaste Qantas only without advising what the situation was for the other three carriers she could have used to get there (albeit via an alternate route).

 

[Ausbt]

lefty overlords

Whenever I read that I automatically assume the writer is a fascist, because ...well assumptions.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Those that have flown US domestic in recent years will be aware of the current circus that has developed over there, with people bringing in peacocks, squirrels etc, under increasingly tenuous claims of emotional support. In some cases it has been used as a ruse to transport their pet.

It seems once the genie gets out of the bottle in this area, it really gets out of control.

Totally agree....

​

 

[tgh]

We were quite amused to find a pet restroom in the the sfo terminal..
Never mind people in the J loo… what about the support animal(s)

 

[Spider]

MindDog does not have sufficient accreditation. That's what the main issue is. Training of assistance animals is quite unregulated. Just about anyone can start such a facility and claim whatever they want. Get your animal trained at a properly accredited facility and there will be no issues.

On the same issue, I am a bit curious, why only dogs, in Australia, are seen as assistance animals? Why not cats, for example? Cats can provide the same comfort and psychological support for their owner.

 

[moa999]

MindDog does not have sufficient accreditation. That's what the main issue is. Training of assistance animals is quite unregulated

MindDig in particular doesn't seem to do any training, simply certification for self trained animals

 

[woodborer]

On the same issue, I am a bit curious, why only dogs, in Australia, are seen as assistance animals? Why not cats, for example? Cats can provide the same comfort and psychological support for their owner.

You need to distinguish between service animals and emotional support animals. Sure cats can provide comfort and psychological support, but can they be trained as service animals - to act as the eyes and ears of the owner, to assist the owner in performing functions?

 

[Lynda2475]

Why not cats, for example? Cats can provide the same comfort and psychological support for their owner.

What you have described is an emotional support animal, the animal isn't trained to do anything except sit there. Mental illness are real, but there are medications which can taken or meditation techniques employed to treat anxiety etc without turning a flight into a petting zoo like they have in the USA. The argument for need of anything but a genuine guide or assistance dog on a flight is tenuous as best, and as someone who is highly allergic to cats I hope never to have to share a plane with one.

Traditionally an assistance animal is a dog that is trained to help its physically impaired owners with tasks such as opening doors, turning on lights, fetching items etc. Very often they are labradors who failed out of the guide dog program, but still had good temperament and eagerness to help. Cats are largely indifferent to doing tasks on command, so not suitable.

 

[Franky]

What you have described is an emotional support animal, the animal isn't trained to do anything except sit there. Mental illness are real, but there are medications which can taken or meditation techniques employed to treat anxiety etc without turning a flight into a petting zoo like they have in the USA. The argument for need of anything but a genuine guide or assistance dog on a flight is tenuous as best, and as someone who is highly allergic to cats I hope never to have to share a plane with one.

Traditionally an assistance animal is a dog that is trained to help its physically impaired owners with tasks such as opening doors, turning on lights, fetching items etc. Very often they are labradors who failed out of the guide dog program, but still had good temperament and eagerness to help. Cats are largely indifferent to doing tasks on command, so not suitable.

Only largely indifferent??

 

[Spider]

This given case involved a psychological support dog, not an assistance dog, like dogs who lead blind people. I simply do not think that such support animals, whether dogs or cats or turkeys should be allowed in the passenger cabin. This is why I asked the original question, why are psychological assistance - support dogs allowed in cabins but other animals are not. Ban them all, let them travel in cargo like normal pets and let only guide dogs travel in cabin.

 

[farstar]

Some people are allergic to certain animals, so who will be responsible for the person who has an allergic reaction or are they just screwed. I say guide dogs only, people need to harden up.