US lays out enforcement priorities for animals on planes

The government is telling airlines and passengers how it will enforce rules governing animals that people bring on planes. The Transportation Department said Thursday that airline employees can bar any animal they consider a safety threat. Airlines, however, can be punished if they ban an entire dog or cat breed, such as pit bulls. The department's enforcement office said that it doesn't plan to stop airlines from asking passengers "reasonable" questions about a service animal's vaccinations, training and behaviour. Airlines can require advance notice if passengers plan to bring an emotional support animal — several already do — but can't impose the same requirement for service animals such as guide dogs for the blind. The number of animals on planes rose rapidly in recent years as more people began bringing a companion for emotional support. Most flying pets are tame, but there have been some well-publicized instances of animals biting passengers or airline employees and other reports of animals relieving themselves in the cabin. The Transportation Department plans to publish the guidelines next week, and airlines will have 30 days after that to conform their rules with the federal policy. Airlines for America, a trade group of major US airlines other than Delta, and the flight attendants' union blamed the large numbers on passengers who fraudulently claim they need an emotional support animal to fly. Airlines must waive pet fees for comfort animals if the owner has a doctor's note vouching for their need to have the animal companion.<br/>