We’re in the second week of September, and the CertaPet team is back with yet another newsletter to help our readers stay up-to-date with the latest regarding travel with ESAs and Service Animals. This week, we’re highlighting changes in Canadian law regarding travel.
Canadian Law Steps Up Requirements For Travel With Service Animals and ESAs
Recent amendments in Canadian law may affect Emotional Support and Service Animals community members traveling to and from the country. Here’s what our readers need to know about the changes.
ESA-related content
The new law proposes accepting any species other than canines as an ESA would cause ‘undue hardship’ for airline carriers.
Besides that, while domesticated dogs are generally considered suitable as ESAs, travel without unrestricted carriers wouldn’t be acceptable due to safety and health risks, welfare and animal behavior concerns, and the effects of fraudulent representation of pets and Emotional Support Dogs (ESDs).
In short, airlines will now require passengers to adhere to the conditions and necessary safeguards to allow ESDs to travel with their owners. Here are some of the conditions airlines can ask travelers to fulfill.
Persons with disabilities need to provide proof from a licensed medical health professional in good standing with their governing body they’re being treated for a mental health disability and require an ESD to accommodate the condition.
The disabled person needs to provide a veterinary certificate that:
- Specifies the ESD by breed and name
- Specifies the person with the disability relies on the dog as an ESD
- Certifies the ESD is healthy to travel, not suffering from contagious illnesses, ticks, or fleas, and is up-to-date on its vaccinations
- Clarifies whether the vet has any knowledge of the ESD misbehaving, including incidents of excessive barking, aggressive behavior, or causing injury to others
- The veterinary certificate must be dated within two months before the date of initial travel set out in the itinerary if the timing has not been prescribed in the jurisdiction of the country, province, state, or territory where the person is traveling to or from
- The person with a disability must provide adequate documentation to the airline carrier at least 96 hours before travel.
- The ESD needs to fit comfortably in an appropriately sized carrier that must fit under the seat in front of the person with a disability for the duration of the trip. The animal carrier needs to meet the airline’s restrictions and conditions of cabin carriers, and the ESD must remain inside the carrier for the entirety of the time it’s in the passenger cabin.
- The person with a disability needs to demonstrate to the airline that the ESD meets all the travel, entry, and exit requirements of the country, province, state, or territory they travel to or from. This includes providing appropriate documentation as applicable.
- The person with a disability traveling with their ESD in compliance with all necessary conditions must not be charged for this accommodation.
CertaPet’s Thoughts on This Week’s News
With laws regarding travel with ESAs and Service Animals seeing rapid changes, passengers need to enquire about the requirements of travel with canines, including documentation, carrier specifications, and other details. We’ve reserved next week’s newsletter to highlight the rules and regulations of Canadian law regarding PSDs. Don’t forget to tune in next time!
If you’re living with a mental illness, getting an Emotional Support Animal could really help your recovery. These loving animals could ease your symptoms and help you live a happier, fuller life. If you’re ready to start the process, take our 5-minute pre-screening test for free. We’ll connect you with a licensed mental health professional, who will have a consultation with you. Then, if you qualify, you’ll get your ESA letter in no time.