Comments on: Finding the Right Dog 4 – Lifestyle Issues – Travel and Boarding http://www.poodlejunction.com/blog/2010/03/dog_travel_and_boarding/ I've gone to the dogs. Please feel free to join me. Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:13:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: cindy http://www.poodlejunction.com/blog/2010/03/dog_travel_and_boarding/comment-page-1/#comment-73 cindy Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:13:25 +0000 http://www.poodlejunction.com/blog/?p=81#comment-73 my pooches have almost as many miles on them as i do! i take them everywhere. last fall i flew them in the cabin with me (as Service Dogs (more on that below), they are allowed to travel uncrated, as long as they fit in the space between your legs and the seat in front (or, better yet, if you can get the bulkhead, there's more leg room there). my advice on traveling this way is: if you are traveling with one or two dogs (2 allowed only if thy are service dogs, i believe; otherwise it is one per adult passenger. check with your airline for regs) that are very small, and can both fit comfortably in the largest allowable dog carrier that would fit under the seat (there's a doublewide that i got, with wheels), then even if they are allowed out, they have a cozy place that feels like home (have them sleep in it for a few days before the trip). even if your dog is big, Service Dogs are allowed to travel in cabin, as long as they can fit in that space. the thing about Service Dogs is this: "Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), businesses and organizations that serve the public must allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals into all areas of the facility where customers are normally allowed to go. This federal law applies to all businesses open to the public, including restaurants, hotels, taxis and shuttles, grocery and department stores, hospitals and medical offices, theaters, health clubs, parks, and zoos." It also includes transport, like planes, busses and trains (which normally do not allow any pets). you see, your service animal is not a pet. he might be YOUR pet, but he is a working animal. BTW, another law, they are not alowed to question you about your disability, or what service your dog performs. go check it out to see if it matches your needs. If you have additional questions concerning the ADA and service animals, please call the Department's ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 (voice) or (800) 514-0383 (TTY) or visit the ADA Business Connection at ada.gov. my pooches have almost as many miles on them as i do! i take them everywhere. last fall i flew them in the cabin with me (as Service Dogs (more on that below), they are allowed to travel uncrated, as long as they fit in the space between your legs and the seat in front (or, better yet, if you can get the bulkhead, there’s more leg room there).

my advice on traveling this way is:
if you are traveling with one or two dogs (2 allowed only if thy are service dogs, i believe; otherwise it is one per adult passenger. check with your airline for regs) that are very small, and can both fit comfortably in the largest allowable dog carrier that would fit under the seat (there’s a doublewide that i got, with wheels), then even if they are allowed out, they have a cozy place that feels like home (have them sleep in it for a few days before the trip). even if your dog is big, Service Dogs are allowed to travel in cabin, as long as they can fit in that space.

the thing about Service Dogs is this:

“Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), businesses and organizations that serve the public must allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals into all areas of the facility where customers are normally allowed to go. This federal law applies to all businesses open to the public, including restaurants, hotels, taxis and shuttles, grocery and department stores, hospitals and medical offices, theaters, health clubs, parks, and zoos.”
It also includes transport, like planes, busses and trains (which normally do not allow any pets).

you see, your service animal is not a pet. he might be YOUR pet, but he is a working animal. BTW, another law, they are not alowed to question you about your disability, or what service your dog performs. go check it out to see if it matches your needs.

If you have additional questions concerning the ADA and service animals, please call the Department’s ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 (voice) or (800) 514-0383 (TTY) or visit the ADA Business Connection at ada.gov.

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