Dot Regulations On Emotional Support Animals

The DOT has supported the airlines rights to restrict animals less than 4 months old from flying as a service or emotional support animal.

Dot regulations on emotional support animals. Observing the behavior of animals. Requires airlines to treat psychiatric service animals the same as other service animals. Department of Transportation DOT Delta will no longer recognize emotional support animals as service animals beginning January 11 2021.

Friday August 9 2019 Yesterday the United States Department of Transportation DOT issued guidance to help travelers understand their rights while new regulations are being developed. Last week the DOT essentially rid the already-cramped aluminum tubes of emotional support animals which have heretofore been limited only by the imaginations and temerity. First the ACAA currently requires airlines to recognize emotional support animals as service animals.

The following is meant as a general guide to the rules and regulations around emotional support animals. The DOT notes it no longer considers an emotional support animal to be a service animal paving the way for airlines to ban them if they dont fit established rules about pets. The Washington Post via Getty Images FILE.

Learn the rules for housing and flying with an ESA. Allows airlines to require forms developed by DOT attesting to a service animals health behavior and training and if taking a long flight attesting that the service animal can either not relieve itself or can relieve. Delta has similar regulations requiring passengers traveling with emotional support or psychiatric service animals must complete and submit the required paperwork at least 48 hours before a flight Service and support animals fly for free on the airline but customers are limited to a maximum of one emotional support animal.

Under the new guidelines only dogs may be designated as service animals and owners must attest that they are specially trained to provide services to the passenger among other requirements. The changes also clarify that emotional support animals ESAs comfort animals companionship animals animals being trained to be service animals and species other than dogs are not considered. That still allow ESAs in the cabin.

That means you will no longer be able to bring your dog in the airline cabin with you. United would continue to transport emotional support animals for reservations purchased before January 11 2021 for travel on or before February 28 2021 as long as all appropriate paperwork has been. Requiring documentation for psychiatric support animals and emotional support animals.