Frazzled passengers are nothing new at airports. What is new is the wider use in airports across the country of emotional support animals to calm travelers’ fears and reduce tension.
Ironically, this is happening at the same time airlines are getting tough on enforcing regulations for emotional support animals in the airplane cabin. Recent news stories about biting dogs and snakes and peacocks as ESAs are behind the crackdown.
4 Airports Keeping Travelers Calm
Therapy dogs are working hard to reduce stress and anxiety at airports all over the U. S. Here are 4 that are standouts.
Denver International Airport has seriously embraced the advantages of animal therapy. Its Canine Airport Therapy Squad, CATS, has more than 100 dogs, plus a cat, deployed to reduce tension among passengers. Look for pets in blue vests displaying a cheery “Pet Me.”
Los Angeles International Airport offers PUP, Pets Unstressing Passengers. Here the dogs and their handlers wear red vests and greet passengers at the gate areas and at airport information spots.
San Francisco International Airport has a pet pig, part of its Wag Brigade, to make travel via the airport more enjoyable. The Brigade is composed of several dogs, as well as Lilou the pig, and their handlers.
At the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport, you might be met at your gate by miniature horse. The tiny horses have friendly, outgoing personalities. They attract attention, giving tense passengers a mood-improving sight to focus on.
Meanwhile, in the Airplane…
Airlines are responding to an ongoing spate of problems with ESAs in the aircraft cabin. Two major carriers, Delta and United, now make it a rule that owners of all emotional support animals must bring signed documentation before getting on the plane. The paperwork needs to show that the animal will behave on the flight.
ESA-related troubles have grown in the last few years because of the increased numbers of ESAs on flights and the huge variety of animals. The most common problems include not house- (or cabin-) trained, biting and triggering allergies.
Therapy Animals Differ from Emotional Support Animals
A pet brings comfort one-on-one during a flight. That’s why passengers want to bring along an ESA. But therapy animals meet and greet a multitude of people over the course of their shifts at the airport. That’s why before a therapy animal is used by an airport, it requires evaluation and proper training.
The Denver Airport has “a whole onboarding process,” as do other airport programs. Pros check how the animal does with various people in a range of situations. The animals also need documentation showing they have successfully completed therapy training.
Support for Your Emotional Support Animal
USA Service Dog Registration helps people just like you with your emotional support animal. They understand the major contribution these animals can make to the quality of life for so many suffering from anxiety and stress.
Here’s how USA Service Dog Registration can improve life for you and your ESA.
Free and easy registration. It takes just three steps to register your dog, cat or other emotional support animal. The process is simple and best of all, it is absolutely free! Just fill out the form on the website.
Informative resources. Check out the extensive library of resources on the USA Service Dog Registration website. You can find information about current laws, and airline requirements.
Quality gear and ID. The ESA store offers a range of gear specially made for emotional support animals. You can find patches, ID cards, tags, vests, collars and leaches.
Visit USA Service Dog Registration today to register your pet, to learn more about ESA regulations, and to find the gear you need.
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