January 19, 2018 –
The International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA) applauds Delta Airlines for their new policy regarding emotional support animals.
“Instead of waiting for federal regulation, Delta has decided to release its own rules and we could not be more supportive of the decision,” says Derek Huntington, IPATA President. “For the safety of all passengers, the appropriate documentation should be required, including the necessary health certificates.”
More than 700 emotional support animals fly each day with Delta. There have been many reports about these animals biting passengers or otherwise misbehaving. According to the new policy, which begins on March 1, 2018, passengers seeking to fly with pets are required to present additional documents outlining passenger’s need for the animal and proof of the animal’s training and vaccinations. All documents are to be submitted 48 hours prior to the scheduled flight.
In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of passengers trying to bring emotional support animals in cabin; many of whom are falsifying documents in order to have their animals fly this way. Unfortunately, safety and health issues can get missed and can go unnoticed as pets flown this way are not required to have a health certificate.
In addition, many of these untrained support pets are not familiar with this type of environment, putting them under undue stress and ultimately the other passengers in danger.
Members of IPATA, the pet shipping experts™, are dedicated to the care and welfare of pets and animals during transport. Pet shippers are the people who move your pet from point A to point B, work directly with the airlines and who apply their knowledge of flight regulations, flight container requirements, quarantine, boarding, import and export arrangements, health documentation and proper identification. These requirements frequently change, so it is important to work with a professional.
About IPATA
The International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA), the non-profit trade organization dedicated to the care and welfare of pets and animals during transport, supports air travel for pets through commercial airlines cargo systems as being the safest, most expedient and humane means of moving animals throughout the United States and around the world. IPATA has become a global network of more than 420 member companies in 85 countries across the world. IPATA members ship millions of pets each year and can provide countless stories of shipments that went completely as planned, where the animal reached its destination happy and healthy and was reunited with its owners. IPATA works with local governments, policymakers, and the airlines directly to make sure pet travel is as safe as possible and to ensure that the number of fatalities continue to decrease.
Media Contact
Kim Cunningham, IPATA Communication Director, e-mail: kim(at)ipata(dot)org
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