Navy veteran's service dogs denied access on plane in Denver ...Middle East

DENVER (KDVR) — A Navy veteran missed his flight after not being allowed to take his service dogs on a plane from Denver to Washington, D.C.

Michael Stinnett proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy for eight years and now works as an attorney helping disabled veterans. He struggles with service-related health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder.

Stinnett depends on his documented service dogs Gwen, a four-year-old American bulldog, and Rue, a seven-month-old chihuahua bulldog mix.

“If I’m having a really bad panic attack they detect that real quickly,” he told FOX31.

The dogs also assist Stinnett with his physical disabilities.

“I can’t really walk down stairs or down slopes or whatever and so they’ll help me,” he said.

Though Stinnett regularly flies with Gwen and Rue, he was not allowed to take both dogs on his flight from Denver to Washington on Feb. 18.

“They said buy another ticket or don’t get on the plane,” he said.

Stranded in Denver, Stinnett reached out to the airline’s corporate office saying he felt embarrassed and demoralized. He said that hours later, the airline placed him on another flight.“I was like, 'Thank you, I appreciate it,'” he said.

Frontier Airlines provided FOX31 with a statement explaining that the posted policy regarding customers traveling with two service dogs allows for one of the animals to fly in the customer’s lap if it is no larger than the size of a two-year-old child.

The second dog can be on the floor as long as it does not impede passengers’ ability to pass by the dog in the event of an emergency. The statement says the gate agent in Denver did not feel these requirements were met, in which case the customer would need to purchase an extra seat.

Frontier is investigating the inconsistency across the different legs of Stinnett’s journey.

Stinnett says he was concerned about his dogs spending extra time in the airport.“I’m mostly happy to get them back home,” he said.

The law allows travelers to take up to two qualified and documented service animals on board but the airlines are entitled to check the animal’s condition and eligibility. AAA of Colorado Public Affairs Regional Director Skyler McKinley tells FOX31 that anyone traveling with an animal should understand their rights.“There was a point where federal rule allowed you to travel with what’s called an emotional support animal, those days are over; you need to be traveling with a bonafide service animal otherwise the airlines are entitled to and will treat that emotional support animal as a pet so know the distinction,” McKinley said.

You have rights as a fellow passenger and can ask to not be seated next to service animals or regular pets. Stinnett told FOX31 he has been happy to accommodate fellow passengers with allergies.

“We just switched seats real quick because she’s allergic and that was that took all like ten seconds to solve that problem,” he said.

Regular pets must have health records and tickets must be purchased. Make sure you read your airline’s pet policies. Service dogs are not allowed in exit rows.

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