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U.S. NEWS Saturday 23 June 2018

Delta bans pit bulls as service dogs, sparks backlash

By JEFF MARTIN tem,” she said. “He’s my The bite happened during
Associated Press emergency response sys- the boarding process for
ATLANTA (AP) — Delta Air tem. I trust him more than I Delta flight 295 from Atlanta
Lines says it’s no longer al- trust myself when it comes to Narita, Japan, the airline
lowing passengers to fly to not feeling well. He’s said. Delta “should resist un-
with “pit bull type” dogs as been trained to get help if warranted breed prejudice
service or support animals, I need him to. Koda and I and rescind its breed ban,”
a policy that’s being met are a team - we’re insepa- Matt Bershadker, president
with criticism by groups rable.” and CEO of the American
that train service dogs and Now, Gilbert has 20 trips Society for the Prevention
the people who use them. planned with Delta later of Cruelty to Animals, said
The Atlanta-based airline this year and is scrambling in a statement Thursday.
describes its ban as an “en- to figure out what to do. Figuring out exactly which
hancement” to its policy on Delta said its ban on pit dogs fall under the policy
animals in passenger areas. bull-type dogs responds to could be a challenge.
Delta will also limit travelers “growing safety concerns” “Pit bull is an arbitrary la-
to a single emotional sup- after several employees bel - there’s no standard This Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016 file photo shows a Delta Air
port animal per flight. The were bitten, the airline said definition of what makes a Lines jet at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in
changes, announced this in a statement. dog a pit bull,” said Regina Atlanta.
week, take effect July 10. “We must err on the side Lizik, the communications Associated Press
“It’s a bit nuts because Del- of safety,” Delta said in a and fundraising manager includes reptiles, spiders “The irony is that I switched
ta is actually my preferred statement Friday. “Most at Animal Farm Foundation and goats, among others. airlines to Delta when I got
airline to fly with my service recently, two Delta em- in Bangall, New York, which Gilbert said she under- a service dog because
dog,” said Fiona Gilbert of ployees were bit by a pit provides service dogs to stands Delta’s desire to they have the nicest flight
the San Francisco area, bull traveling as a sup- people with various disabili- keep its employees safe. attendants, and they are a
who said she flew about port animal last week. We ties. Gilbert’s pit bull was She said she supported wonderful company to fly
300,000 miles with Delta in struggled with the decision trained there. the airline in March, when with,” Gilbert said.
the past year with her pit to expand the ban to ser- “It’s all about that individ- it announced new policies Gilbert said she hasn’t re-
bull-type dog, Koda. vice animals, knowing that ual dog and their ability to for service animals. Delta ceived complaints about
Gilbert has a degenera- some customers have legit- do this work,” Lizik said. “All and United officials said at Koda curled up by her feet
tive neurological condition, imate needs, but we have dogs are individuals.” the time that they’d seen on Delta flights in the past.
and Koda can sense when determined that untrained, Delta’s statement says a sharp rise in the number Service dogs such as Koda
she might have a seizure pit bull-type dogs posing as “pit bull type” dogs will be of support animals, and are “much more polite and
and then get help if need- both service and support banned, but lists “Bull type that some passengers were less disruptive than some
ed, she said. animals are a potential dogs” on its online list of bringing all types of animals passengers I’ve been on
“He’s basically my alert sys- safety risk.” prohibited animals, which on board. planes with,” she said.q

Woman who shot boyfriend
in videotaped stunt resisted

ADA, Minn. (AP) — A tran- him as he held a hardcover
script released Friday shows encyclopedia against his
a woman tried to resist as chest. The couple planned
her boyfriend urged her to to post the video on You-
shoot him for a videotaped Tube. “The most trustwor-
stunt in Minnesota that thy person that I trust in this
ended in his death. world is my girlfriend, Mon-
The Norman County prose- alisa,” Ruiz said in the video
cutor also released portions “So if I die, I’m pretty much
of the video Pedro Ruiz III ready to go to heaven This photo released by the
took with his girlfriend, Mon- right now.” According to Northwest Regional Correc-
alisa Perez, at their home in the transcript, Perez pleads tions Center shows Monalisa
Halstad last year. with her boyfriend “I can’t Perez. Perez, of Halstad, Minn.,
who pleaded guilty to fatally
Ruiz, 22, shows off the do it, babe. I’m so scared.” shooting her boyfriend Pedro
.50-caliber Desert Eagle Ruiz tells her, “As long as Ruiz III in a videotaped stunt
handgun and the bullet you hit the book, you’ll be they planned to post on You-
he wanted Perez to fire at fine. Come on.”q Tube.