Dogs in the air…and on the air
July 6, 2018 • 7 Comments • Posted in blindness, guide dogs, radio, Seeing Eye dogs, travelRadio host Justin Kaufmann came well-prepared for our short interview on WGN Radio yesterday morning — we even got a couple of call-ins! If you missed hearing us live, you can hear The Air Carrier Act: How new procedures are impacting those visually impaired online now.
During the interview yesterday I told my story about the small dog wearing a “service dog” vest who barked and lunged at Whitney at Midway Airport, how the dog’s owner told me the dog keeps her calm and prevents her from getting panic attacks on the plane, and how when Southwest announced that people with disabilities could pre-board, the woman and her dog rushed to the front of the line to nab a bulkhead seat.
The sports reporter sitting in the studio weighed in then with a question about what Whitney does for me inside an airport, and I answered in detail — everything from getting me into the taxi, leading me to curbside check-in, following the red cap to elevators, through security, to the gate, down the jetway and finally, to our seat. On the flight with the yippy service dog, we sat in the 8th row window seat, Whitney, a 60 pound Yellow Lab/Golden Retriever cross, sat with her bottom under the seat in front of us, her head on my feet, and didn’t make a peep during the flight.
She didn’t make a peep while underfoot in the radio studio, either, and I was proud to point that out as the interview came to a close.
In light of the challenges people working with service animals are facing during air travel, The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is making plans to amend and clarify its regulations implementing the Air Carrier Access Act. DOT has issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rule Making (ANPRM) and is seeking comments from the public. I think clearer rules about traveling with service animals could help eliminate some problems, and if you think so, too, I hope you’ll comment there, too. Just make sure you submit comments by this Monday, July 9, 2018. Thanks for listening!