Comment by spinlock | Hacker News Reader

Comment by spinlock | Hacker News Reader

The author has obviously never traveled with an emotional support animal. The difference between how you are treated by TSA with an animal and without is amazing. I travel with my dog and, as soon as TSA sees the vest, I am allowed to go through the pre-check line (I do not have pre-check) so I don't have to take off my shoes, etc... TSA is also much nicer to people traveling with animals. Rather than the typical surly bullshit, they are nice and want to pet your dog, etc...

So, if the author really thinks that animals are a bigger problem than TSA, they are probably one of those people who "cheats" security by paying for pre-check to avoid going through proper security. I am much more concerned with how the incompetence and rudeness of TSA is being used to extract money and personal information from travelers.

If airlines and airports want people to stop lying about the reason they are brining their pets on the airplane, perhaps we should start by making TSA stop lying about the benefit they provide. When we see TSA extracting billions of dollars from taxpayers for security theater, it's easy to assume that the only people still playing by the rules are suckers.

> So, if the author really thinks that animals are a bigger problem than TSA, they are probably one of those people who "cheats" security by paying for pre-check to avoid going through proper security.

As opposed to someone who brings an "emotional support" animal with them to cheat their way through security?

The main problems I have with "emotional support" animals is their owners. These people are usually inconsiderate of others and completely self centered.

I've witnessed on multiple occasions dogs shitting or pissing all over commuter trains and their owners just hop off the train and leave it for everyone else to deal with. You'll often see these people at the gate trying to get priority seating by shoving their dog in the attendent's face while the attendant is trying to help other passengers with legitimate needs. I've been nipped by one of these dogs on a flight and the owner's response was "she feels threatened by you." I suggest she might put the dog in her cage since I can't move seats at which point she tried to have my seat moved by an attendant.

The fucked up thing is that if you put a muzzle on your dog so that they can't bite anyone, people will treat you like you're traveling with a dangerous animal.

That or they thing you're being abusive and cruel.

I think I understand why dogs bite you.

What? Why is that?

because you give people who would make sure they can't bite you a hard time.

I never said I did. I'm saying that when people put muzzles on their dogs they get shamed by people who say it's cruel.

I have had quite different experience. I have traveled a fair amount with my son and his medium-sized, and thus atypical-looking service dog. TSA has never given us any kind of special treatment, except once late at night in Denver when an agent allowed us to go through the pre-check lane and thus not wait in a long line. Even then, we still had to go through all the same procedures as the full lane: Shoes off, gear out and screened as usual, service dog gear off, me carry or walk with service dog through screener, swab my hands, and only with all-clear, be allowed to recollect gear.

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