Recently, we traveled to Singapore. Sadly, Chooey and the pack couldn't come because we jam-packed all our activities in a span of four days.
Ironic enough, this new post, brought by Brad from TherapyPet.org also has something to say about travelling pets.
Emotional Support Animals are different from Service Animals.
ESAs, be it a cat, a dog or even a turkey, help people deal with not just
physical but emotional disabilities. This is why people may want to take their
emotional support animals wherever they go.
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| Dog in Suitcase by James Oakley, CC BY-SA 2.0 |
Passengers should prepare all necessary documents to show to
the relevant authorities for proving theneed for an ESA animal. ESAs have been successfully used in Animal Assisted
Therapy for improving the emotional, social, physical and cognitive
condition of a patient. Cats and dogs are the most popular choices for
emotional support animals.
However, we have witnessed a large number of unusual animals
serving the same purpose. These may include lizards, horses, elephants, parrots
and even monkeys. The Department of Transportation (DOT) is presently considering
adding pigs to the list of ESAs. All of these pet animals are considered
important for providing physical and emotional support to patients who need to
improve their mental health.
For traveling with ESAs, you should know that the following domestic
airlines cater to people who wish to take their ESAs with them on board.
However, you must possess relevant documentation and you will need to contact
the airline for confirming if they will still allow your pet on your route.
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| River, Therapy Dog by Oregon State University, CC BY-SA 2.0 |
Here a few American airlines that allow passengers to carry
their ESAs:
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US Airways
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American Airlines
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Delta Airlines
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Hawaiian Airlines
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Alaska Airlines
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Allegiant Airlines
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Virgin America
International Airlines
Singapore Airlines allows passengers to carry their emotional
support dogs on board provided they have valid documentation. These rules are
subject to change for different countries in any class of travel. (For example,
Brunei does not allow live animals in the cabin). There are certain international
airlines that require that all pets, service animals and emotional support
animals travel as air cargo. These include Japan Airlines, British Airways, Air
France and Virgin Atlantic.
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| Boo the Pilot by DaPuglet, CC BY-SA 2.0 |
If you are planning to travelwith your ESA to the UK, you must arrange for pre-approval clearance and a
processing fee and get in touch with the appropriate Animal Reception Center. Other
foreign carriers may follow revised rules and regulations but they are not
obligated to do so.
Generally, the key to acceptance of your emotional support animal is a prescription letter from a medical professional that
clearly states that an emotional support animal must accompany an individual
while traveling. The reason could be any mental disability, such as depression
or anxiety.
However, patients who have a heart condition can also
carry their emotional support animals if their physician believes the pet will
be able to help the owner stay calm and reduce the risk of a heart attack or
stroke.
ESAs effectively help reduce the symptoms of post-traumatic
stress disorder, bipolar disorder and depression by offering support and therapeutic
benefits.
Final Thoughts
Since vaccinations for animals and documentation may need
some preparation, plan well ahead of time. Moreover, it may be illegal to
import a guide dog or an emotional support animal into the destination country
without a quarantine process. Make all necessary arrangements for carrying your
emotional support animal on board by learn the relevant ESA rules.
