Oct 29, 2018

Off Topic: I'm Not Sure About All Of This

     The Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) is an umbrella group for organizations supporting the rights of the disabled in the United States. This is from a recent position paper they've put out on service animals:
... Public transportation, as well as Amtrak, must allow any service animal trained to work or perform tasks with the exception of primates and exotic snakes. Any limitations must preserve access for all species and sizes of dogs, cats, rabbits, miniature horses, capuchin monkeys, and other species that can be trained to behave appropriately and be safely brought on public transit and rail. ...

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

What is the position of The Coalition for Citizens without Disabilities, an umbrella group for organizations supporting the rights of those not disabled in the United States?

Anonymous said...

If you need support beyond a TRAINED dog, reconsider whether you need to use public transportation. I do not want to fly with anything beyond that.

Anonymous said...

Furthermore, many of these animals are difficult to train. Horses aren't that smart, cats are smart but independent, and monkeys can always change and become dangerous.

Anonymous said...

Why the disparagement of individuals with disabilities. Why the mockery. SHAMEFUL. Why do I care what you "want" to fly with. Show some compassion.

Anonymous said...

The problem is these "emotional support animals" that are giving service animals a bad name. As far as I am aware only a well trained dog is an acceptable service animal. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/animals-and-us/201406/service-animal-scams-growing-problem

Anonymous said...

Well, since we've become a third world state why shouldn't we all expect to ride on a chicken bus?

Anonymous said...

Yep, the conflation of service animals and companion or support animals needs to stop.

Anonymous said...

I like horse!

Anonymous said...

I have compassion for those who really need and have certified service animals. However out of the ten people i know who bring service and emotional support animals with them 9 do not meet the qualifications. However no one can ask them because it would be discrimination. I have a friend who is highly allergic to dogs. He has a horrible time flying now due to all the dogs.

Anonymous said...

I raise puppies for a service dog training non-profit, currently on puppy #5. Puppy raisers keep the dog for the first 1.5-2 years of its live, teaching it about 35 commands. Advanced training usually takes about 6 more months. The success rate is less than 50% at best--only the most skilled dogs "graduate." Nothing makes me angrier than seeing an animal who is obviously not trained (or not trained well) being passed off as a service animal, knowing the time, money, sweat, and yes, tears that go into making a truly well trained service dog. Our state law defines a service animal as one who is able to perform tasks that the disabled person cannot do for him/herself (e.g., open a door, pull off a sock, provide balance and stability for someone with a mobility impairment). I seriously doubt a snake or a cat can do those things.

Anonymous said...

@5:22 PM Service animals can be a trained dog or sometimes a trained miniature horse of certain proportions if it meets certain conditions, at least when ADA applies, because there's a special provision for mini horses.

There are 3 sets of federal laws depending on where you and your animal are: Fair Housing Act via HUD (housing), ACAA via DOT (flights), and ADA via the Justice Dept (public places).

This is an ACAA link with a helpful table:
https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/P3.SA_.HUD%20Matrix.6-28-6.pdf

Anonymous said...

Good point @3:36. I had forgotten that, but it is true that real 'service' animals are carefully selected and highly trained. Some of these emotional support animals strike me as living security blankets. That's fine for it to be claimed as such by the owner, but it's different when imposed on others on public transportation.