Imagine this scenario. You are allergic to dogs. You are in need of a service animal. You get a service pig. The pig is just as well-behaved, well-mannered, and well-trained as any seeing eye dog....
You need this animal because you have seizures, you can't turn on lights, you're blind, you have any number of issues and can't function on a day to day basis without help, and your service animal has provided you with a level of independence and freedom you've not had since before your injury, blindness, ever in your life.
This is not a stretch of the imagination. Service animals provide a level of independence and freedom to the people they serve. I applaud the USDOT for making rule changes that allow these valuable animals on board planes. I can't imagine needing such an animal, but I also can't imagine denying these people the right (and it is a legal right under ADA) to bring their animals with them.
As with anything, there will always be naysayers. Why is it that people think their allergies or whatever entitle them to deny other people their legal rights? You can take a benadryl or a claritin or whatever... These animals aren't pets. Not even close. Some people who need service animals wouldn't be able to travel without them. It makes me sad that people would even consider this an issue. Please be compassionate to others and realize that these aren't pets. These are animals who serve.
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