They come with animal. I am point person. I immediately take them out of waiting into an exam room.

I say what's up with animal. Their response is that it is an emotional support one. Oh really. Can we see papers and upload it into medical charts so file is complete.

I don't have any papers.

Well, you need them. I can help you. But I am not a doctor. I will have a doctor examine you. It is their medical decision if you get it.

The doctor will then come to me and say yes or no. Usually yes, not because they are bad doctors. They just don't know how to distinguish from an exam room visit what they are like in public with and without dog.

We ask them to fill out a form and sign attesting that they are psychiatrically or emotionally disturbed without an animal.

I type out letter, collect money, upload it to charts and tell them welcome to the wonderful world of making it all legal. Here is also my business card and if you get any fluff, tell them to call me because I know the law. I even know what airlines allow what animals.

In the case of guy coming back to office, I did inform the doctor. Now, it could have been a mad dash and dog was in car. That is like saying a guy can function without anti-depressants for a day and he is therefore scamming. That is not enough evidence to say fraud, but I personally found it suspicious.

Within a year we will reassess and hopefully he has been cured of his dependency. But like drugs, probably addictive.

I think I know what I am doing. I do it everyday.

I was thinking of when your medical records get hacked, which they will, and it is disclosed that you have a psychiatric disorder. Or just future doctors seeing it.

It is not end of world. Just something to consider becoming part of your permanent medical chart.

I don't know what jobs it would preclude. Pilots I am sure. I don't know about police or fire professionals.

You can definitely be a doctor or lawyer.

I am for the discussion of mental illness being in the open. And cures. Is an animal better than a pill or human therapy? Perhaps for some.

I don't know many studies. And I don't know, public policy wise, the rights that entitles that person. It definitely infringes on others.

op, pilots can have 'mental illnesses'.

i wonder if this ****ing guy realises that by the latest dsm, basically half of us will have a diagnosable mental illness in our lifetime.

this thread sucks.

sup gobbo. i got love for you man. great post.

like really bro... you don't see why precluding people from a ton of jobs over 'mental illness' would be a counter productive thing? like people might not seek help then and be even more 'dangerous'.

what's wrong with people? this **** is outrageous.

It's weird because I actually believe Golf's a doc but something about the way he speaks of his patients makes him sound like a teenager.

Also lol at people being terribly concerned at having flight-induced panic attacks on "their permanent record". What's next? Detention? Getting called to the principal's office?

People are very passionate over this issue.

And there are very few case-law/precedents on this topic.

I have seen a surge and recognized I may be partly to blame. These emotional support animals are walking advertisements to other people. They do get tons of attention.

Are these people depressed? Yes.
Would an animal help? Probably
Should they be allowed to go anywhere? That is the government's call. They have seemed to ignore this issue.

I think when there is a monkey and dog fight on a plane and the pilot needs to come back and break it up, that there will be some definitive legislation put in place.

the animal thing just isn't very interesting. it is what it is. my beef is the mental illness ignorance.

I am not a doctor. Teenager? I wish so because I knew everything then.

I am well-versed on this controversial topic.

From a doc's prospective, it is better than a pill. Here they make some money (not a lot), there is no abuse or selling, no DEA oversight and no insurance issues. Cash only.

We are not private investigators. We rely on our patients to tell us the truth. We are here to help them. We want to see improvement and not become dependent on an animal.

We only started this six months ago. If we get notification that it is abused, we will terminate it. We haven't received any complaints.

We follow all the protocols.

If they got script from another doctor, we respect that like any other business. I just am in a position to ask for it under guise it needs to be in their medical chart.

It is when I see vests that I get irritated because that screams scam. You don't need that. All you need is physician's note.

Since I'm Euro I've literally never seen this but I don't really get why everyone is so upset. It might be a scam but I also like cute animals. Also I'd rather see someone carry their dachshund around then load up on Xanax like every other American seems to do.

Some people just may not like to sit next to a miniature horse for an entire plane ride. But, supposedly, they can't take a plane trip without their animal. There are other modes of transport.

Anyone can scam the test.

I am going to research more and find out the penalty for lying. My guess is that it is no where as punitive as for drugs or a handicap placard. And much harder to prove. We aren't sending investigators out. And they may say for this episode anyway, they didn't need their animal. Other times they do.

There needs to be consistent regulations. It will come. My hope is soon. If this keep going, you are building up a big lobbying group that will take over this issue and make the law very loose and pro-animal. They are a passionate bunch.

I understand the initial reasons behind the support animals & having protections and ADA regs. Years ago people would refuse seeing-eye dogs and there were everyday businesses someone in a wheelchair couldn't get into. Those types of accommodations are costly for a small segment of the population but I think very justified.

But now I see stories like a blind woman with a service MINIATURE HORSE because her religion forbids dogs and it might offend her friends. Which she brings into restaurants with her...I mean it's not a Clydesdale but look at this thing:



WTF. I love horses personally, but I think we're getting a bit beyond "reasonable" accommodations and the original intent of these protections. Unfortunately in that case her religion becomes a distraction for some people (if you're one of them, just pretend it's a hot blonde chick with a dog allergy). But extremes aside the support animal thing is clearly being abused.

Also in the cases of people seeking a service animal for a supposed mental disability, is there any cross-check to also evaluate their fitness to do other things like retain a driver's license, purchase a firearm, or pilot a commercial aircraft? While you don't want to stigmatize people with real problems, a healthy-looking person with a service animal is already calling some attention to themselves.

I didnt even know that was a thing. I am going to get my dog as a ESA.

How do ppl get the horse to the mall?

I don't think that one would fit into my car.

She takes the bus.

No way. Way more concerned to see a monkey. Monkeys have hands. They can crash the plane.

Have you ever tried to get a security clearance?

We effectively don't have any buses where I live.

Let's just let all of the animals on.

I dunno about the states, but in your Transport Canada medical if you have any depression or substance abuse issues you're not getting approved (pilot or ATC) unless they're addressed medically.

I am going to put a packet together. Disclosures. Remind them to be courteous. Where we think you can legally and not legally go. And our final goal: To get you to the point where you can function without the need for an animal in our society.

We have not done a lot. With some minor marketing, I can triple it overnight. Add $150k to bottom line. Part of me can reconcile it because I see all the worthless drug companies that peddle their wares that don't seem to work. And all the diversion and abuse from pills.

I think this is relatively new and the studies are by self-interested groups protected by self-interested lawyers.

Hey, and at least we document it and inform them this is only for a year. They think they can order a vest on eBay and have carte-Blanche forever. At least we get to inform of the liabilities and encourage them to "get-off" addiction to animal. Maybe ask them to try not to use it every other day. We want them cured.

I think I may have got too far off point with the horse. Still, something about a guide animal that needs a bag strapped to its a-hole to catch poop, hanging around a restaurant...eh. It's possible that I'm not being as compassionate and tolerant as I should, I don't know. Just seems wrong.

A few years ago there was a story in AC about this lady, husband was a high roller IIRC. Three (3!) Yorkies she claimed were support animals she wanted to bring to a buffet at a casino or something. They had clothes and little hats on, but she has some kind of paperwork. Anyway she was refused and she make a stink or sued.

+1

This seems like a case of 'Murrrica gone wild

There is no schedule to even charge for this. I literally make it up on the moment.

It used to be a one-off issue that has gained traction over the last four months. We all see them and think that damn, my experience being outside would be better too.

I will say this. These people with their animals do get a lot of (mostly) positive attention. And their interaction circle expands. They are mini-celebrities.

I am much more concerned that they are getting addicted to an animal being with them at all times and they may suffer withdrawals if taken away. Their emotional crutch becomes real. They cannot go outside alone.

I would like to see studies on that. Just like drug companies disclose side effects, ESA groups should show long-term impact.