DogQuestion

My friend who I regularly dog sit for may have to move from the UK to the US this year.

He is perpetually skint. He seems to be under the impression that if he registers his dog as an Emotional Support Animal then the airlines will have to fly the dog for free. He does not have a diagnosed mental health condition (though his travelling companion does, which he may have in mind as a work around) and the dog is not trained or certified for any sort of assistance work.

Is he barking up the wrong tree (pardon the pun) or will the airlines actually fly the dog for free? If not, what's a ball park figure for flying a small (5-7kg) dog to the west coast?

In case anyone is wondering why I'm so interested, if he couldn't take the dog there's no one other than me he could really leave it with!

SteveSweet

I have never heard of Emotional Support Animals.
We moved our dog over late last year, for around £1,500. This included vet check-up, collection from our door in the UK, overnight stay pre-flight and crate for him to travel in. You could do it more cheaply if you did DIY. Let me know if you want the company details. They were good.

scrubbedexpat099

ESA's are covered by Federal Airline regulations, not sure if that applies to International Flights.

Similar to Service Dogs, not sure that entitles them to free travel but they are not considered Pets.

Not sure skint and flying to the US compute, but you can get your ESA documentation on line for something like $70 last time I looked, lots of companies will issue them.

Actually AirBnB also do not consider ESA's pets so you can take them with you.

SanDiegogirl

Google "Support animals flying for free" and loads of websites come up.

There are some rules to flying with an emotional support animal such as obtaining letters from medical professionals stating that such an animal is needed etc.

However, lots of scam documentation and vests for pets can be purchased.

It's become a real racket in the States.

Not sure that you can do this for International flights. London airport for one has very strict rules as to animals flying into the airport.

scrubbedexpat099

Certainly if you fly frequently within the US getting an ESA designation will make travel a lot easier.

Aoi

Lufthansa charge 70 euro for a small dog in the cabin travelling intercontinental with the passenger (max 8 kg animal plus carrier). This is a possibility for a 5 kg dog but for a 7 kg dog you are unlikely to find a pet carrier that weights less than 1 kg.
https://www.lufthansa.com/online/por...305559505&l=en

You are not allowed to fly into the UK with the dog in the cabin of a scheduled airline. I do not know whether Lufthansa will fly the dog out of the UK in the cabin. An alternative is the Harwich to Hook of Holland ferry, which has Kennels for the pets of foot passengers, and then by train to an airport outside the UK.

If there is any possibility or returning within 3 years it will make the return much easier if the owner gets an EU Pet Passport for the dog in sufficient time before leaving the UK.
https://www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad/pet-passport

Check the rules for the destination state.

I recommend gettin the carrier or a crate well before departure and use treats to tempt the dog in so that it is comfortable in the carrier or crate.

caretaker

Every time I see this title I think it says Talking Dog and get real excited for a second.. this is about the 3rd time it's happened over the years. My own fault for not wearing my glasses.

excpomea

Agree there,
The students on my campus got so bad that they had to update the rules.
ESA now are no longer allowed in dorms, has to be a fully trained / registered support animal.

Noticed this on our last Queen Mary 2 cruise, damn ESA dogas all over the place. We were ondering if we had stumbled upon a speciality dog cruise !

SanDiegogirl

Emotional support/comfort animals are NOT recognised under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). Only dogs with specialised training are.

Unfortunately, in our current PC and 'rights' world no-one is willing to challenge the owners of these 'comfort' animals as to the genuine necessity of them and so they have become prolific.

Being able to buy vests and certificate for these animals on the web surely indicates how ridiculous it all is.

scrubbedexpat099

This is not an ADA issue, HUD and Airlines and as I mentioned AirBnB and no doubt a few others.

SanDiegogirl

Sorry, but I think it has become a quasi disability issue. People are playing on their so called disabilities and their 'need' for these animals to get around all sorts of rules for their own convenience.

Dogs are now seen in all sorts of stores (including those that sell food), some restaurant areas, aircraft (not in cages), hiking trails (where they are not allowed), movie theatres etc all in the cause of 'needing' these animals for support and comfort.

The OP himself says that his friend is going to register his dog merely to get around paying for the flight.

As said, unfortunately establishments do not want to confront these people and ban these animals as it gets taken up as a rights issue and discrimination against the disabled.

scrubbedexpat099

Certainly in the US there are some very weird and restrictive rules. So if it works go for it.

https://www.denverpost.com/2018/01/1...irlift-ruling/

This amused me.

scrubbedexpat099

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2...0/pets-allowed

Pets Allowed
Why are so many animals now in places where they shouldn’t be?
By Patricia Marx

Twinkle0927

We live in a small one-shop town and they recently put a sign on the door saying that ESAs are no longer permitted inside. Apparently it was getting ridiculous with every other customer claiming their snake/hamster/goldfish etc was an ESA. They do allow service dogs and small horses inside the store.

MidAtlantic

Delta are taking action to control this

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...on/1046380001/