siniang
Policy Enforcement
Citing you @lostforgottensoul representatively. Not targeted at you personally.
Reading up on it more, apparently the proposed changes are:
"Psychiatric SDs" will be treated the same as all other SDs (medical, guide, ...) for air travel and do not require additional documentation about the handler's conditions (forms, doctor's notes, ...) as currently (? please correct me if I got this wrong) is the case.
The "additional documentation" for SDs DOT proposes are:
- Health form signed by a vet (appropriate, imho)
- Behavior form signed by handler (appropriate, but tricky...how to verify?)
- Relief form for flights over 8 hrs signed by handler
And these three forms will be standardized by DOT.
For ESAs, DOT proposes - IF airlines allow ESAs to begin with, with DOT proposes to make it an airline's choice - the following additional to above paperwork:
- letter from the owner's healthcare provider stating the DSM diagnosis, the need for the animal, and that the provider has an ongoing care relationship with the owner, as well as them having met *in person* to discuss the ESA
I APPLAUD that. The necessity to prove that mental health professional and the owner have not only ongoing treatment but have actually met in person will specifically target a lot of the scam websites.
What I find problematic is that DOT proposed to let the airlines decide whether or not they want to allow ESAs to begin with. Given how vocal they've been about their disapproval...this is bound to become an umbrella ban (and as such, discriminatory for many legit mental disorders)
Also...given the lack of required documentation for SDs....I see this resulting in more fake SDs. PARTICULARLY since those who try to abuse the system hardly know the difference between psySD and ESA (as well as "therapy dog") do begin with...
DOT is seeking comment on possible weight/size limitations for both SDs and ESAs. This is probably important for some of you!
@joeylittle This might be important for you, DOT is seeking comment specifically regarding ESA cats.
I am willing to do as much paperwork is required
Reading up on it more, apparently the proposed changes are:
"Psychiatric SDs" will be treated the same as all other SDs (medical, guide, ...) for air travel and do not require additional documentation about the handler's conditions (forms, doctor's notes, ...) as currently (? please correct me if I got this wrong) is the case.
The "additional documentation" for SDs DOT proposes are:
- Health form signed by a vet (appropriate, imho)
- Behavior form signed by handler (appropriate, but tricky...how to verify?)
- Relief form for flights over 8 hrs signed by handler
And these three forms will be standardized by DOT.
For ESAs, DOT proposes - IF airlines allow ESAs to begin with, with DOT proposes to make it an airline's choice - the following additional to above paperwork:
- letter from the owner's healthcare provider stating the DSM diagnosis, the need for the animal, and that the provider has an ongoing care relationship with the owner, as well as them having met *in person* to discuss the ESA
I APPLAUD that. The necessity to prove that mental health professional and the owner have not only ongoing treatment but have actually met in person will specifically target a lot of the scam websites.
What I find problematic is that DOT proposed to let the airlines decide whether or not they want to allow ESAs to begin with. Given how vocal they've been about their disapproval...this is bound to become an umbrella ban (and as such, discriminatory for many legit mental disorders)
Also...given the lack of required documentation for SDs....I see this resulting in more fake SDs. PARTICULARLY since those who try to abuse the system hardly know the difference between psySD and ESA (as well as "therapy dog") do begin with...
DOT is seeking comment on possible weight/size limitations for both SDs and ESAs. This is probably important for some of you!
@joeylittle This might be important for you, DOT is seeking comment specifically regarding ESA cats.