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Pets and Public Transit February, 2021 Transit Times: Supplemental Story

Pet lovers unite in February with a slew of monthly observances, week-long commemorations and day-long celebrations all geared towards- pets.

It’s Pet Dental Health Month, Dog Training Education Month, and Responsible Pet Owners Month. There’s Doggie Date Night, Walking the Dog Day, and National Dog Biscuit Day.

Watch the Westminster Kennel Club Annual Dog Show this February or spread awareness for National Justice for Animals Week.

If nothing more, February is a great time to re-evaluate your pets’ diet and exercise regime...

schedule your pet’s yearly vet appointment...

...and pet-proof your home.

Wondering About the Correlation Between Fido and Public Transit?

We all love our family pets, and we'd like them to travel everywhere with us. But the reality is, that's just not always possible. Businesses, transit companies, shopping centers, restaurants and other public spaces all have their own rules and regulations when it comes to pet accommodations.

The Blue Water Area Transit Commission prohibits pets on it's busses or within the Downtown Transit Center. Service Animals are Welcome.

The Federal Transit Administration and the Department of Transportation

Blue Water Area Transit Commission is regulated by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) . Guidelines regarding ADA Service Animals are followed in accordance with FTA and DOT regulations.

The Federal Transit Association defines a Service Animal as: “any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items."

FTA /DOT ADA Service Animal regulations differ from Department of Justice (DOJ) Service Animal regulations.

FTA/DOT and the Department of Justice: ADA Service Animals

The Department of Justice amended the ADA Service Animal regulations (under Title II and III) to include that a Service Animal must be a dog. However, the FTA/DOT ADA Service Animal definition has not changed; a Service Animal does not have to be a dog according to FTA/DOT regulations.

In other words, although the DOJ has limited Service Animals to only dogs, the FTA has not. Any animal trained to work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability can be a Service Animal under the FTA guidelines that the Blue Water Area Transit abides by.

"Therefore, members of the public may find that some service animals may no longer be considered service animals once they leave a transportation system."-- FTA

Here's an Example of Different ADA Regulations in Effect:

Sally and Mr. Whiskers Ride the Bus

Sally has a physical impairment that has left her without the use of her legs; Sally ambulates with the use of her wheelchair.

Sally's cat, Mr. Whiskers, has been specifically trained to fetch items that are out of her reach (e.g. a cell phone that has fallen to the ground).

Mr. Whiskers accompanies Sally on public transit. The Department of Transportation recognizes Sally's cat, Mr. Whiskers, as a Service Animal because he has been individually trained to perform a task for a person with a disability (fetching dropped items).

Sally and Mr. Whiskers take the bus to the courthouse. Sally is stopped at the door of the courthouse and told that Mr. Whiskers is not permitted within the building. "No pets allowed."

The courthouse is regulated by the Department of Justice. Since Mr. Whiskers is not a dog, the DOJ does not recognize him as a Service Animal- he is considered a pet.

Remember, different departments have different regulations regarding Service Animals and Pets...
What about Comfort Animals or Emotional Support Animals?

Comfort Animals and Emotional Support Animals

"If an animal’s only function is to provide emotional support or comfort for the rider, that animal would not fall under the regulatory training-based definition of a service animal. Simply providing comfort is something that animal does passively, by its nature or through the perception of the owner." -- FTA

Mental health professionals may prescribe an Emotional Support Animal as a part of an individual’s medical treatment plan.

Nevertheless, the FTA/DOT does not consider an Emotional Support animal to be a Service Animal based on the regulatory service-based training definition.

"It does not matter if a person has a note from a doctor that states that the person has a disability and needs to have the animal for emotional support. A doctor’s letter does not turn an animal into a service animal." -- The ADA National Network
"...support animals provide companionship, relieve loneliness, and sometimes help with depression, anxiety, and certain phobias, but do not have special training to perform tasks that assist people with disabilities." -- The ADA National Network
"All his life he tried to be a good person. Many times, however, he failed. For after all, he was only human. He wasn't a dog" -- Charles M. Schulz

Happy Pet Dental Health Month, Dog Training Education Month, and Responsible Pet Owners Month - to you, and yours!

Works Cited:

Service Animal or Emotional Support Animal: What's the Difference? (2021, January 26). Retrieved January 26, 2021, from https://adata.org/service-animal-resource-hub/differences

Frequently asked questions. (n.d.). Retrieved February 04, 2021, from https://www.transit.dot.gov/regulations-and-guidance/civil-rights-ada/frequently-asked-questions

Credits:

Created with images by Pexels - "adorable animal canine" • freestocks-photos - "animals people autumn" • PicsbyFran - "dog sad waiting" • falellorente - "dogs animals dog" • vardansevan - "dog bus animal" • blende12 - "animals dog cat" • misterfarmer - "sheep bus stop stop" • tododisca - "wheelchair disabled handicap" • Alexas_Fotos - "cat face eyes" • 586215 - "bus vehicle travel" • Scholie - "municipal court building hanseatic higher regional court" • Activedia - "law justice court" • guvo59 - "cat small kitten" • Sozavisimost - "doctor patient consultation" • TheHilaryClark - "isolated doctor dentist" • lokalsportessen - "dog animal pet"