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Delta bans pit bulls as service dogs due to safety concerns

Cameron Younglove plays with a pit bull terrier named Sooke at his kennels near Eudora, Kan. For much of the past three decades, pit bulls have been widely regarded as America's most dangerous dog - but attitudes have softened considerably since then as animal activists and even television shows cast the dogs in a more positive light. Cameron Younglove plays with a pit bull terrier named Sooke at his kennels near Eudora, Kan. For much of the past three decades, pit bulls have been widely regarded as America's most dangerous dog - but attitudes have softened considerably since then as animal activists and even television shows cast the dogs in a more positive light.

By Associated Press June 22, 2018 1 min read

ATLANTA (AP) – Delta Air Lines says it’s no longer allowing passengers to fly with “pit bull type” dogs as service or support animals.

The Atlanta-based airline describes its ban announced this week as an “enhancement” to its policy on animals in passenger areas. Delta also says it’s limiting travelers to a single emotional support animal per flight. The changes take effect July 10.

The airline’s statement says its new ban on pit bull type dogs responds to “growing safety concerns” after several employees were bitten. But the ban is prompting a social media backlash, and figuring out exactly which dogs fall under the policy could be a challenge.

Delta describes them differently, as “Bull type dogs,” on its online list of prohibited animals, which includes reptiles, spiders and goats, among others.