Owner of Labrador Teddy resides in Portugal and depends on the animal to deal with the challenges of autistic spectrum disorder
Labrador Teddy, a service dog that assists a child with, arrived on Saturday (31). Its arrival was marked by a series of setbacks, including the refusal of the TAP airline to allow its transport the previous week. Teddy plays a fundamental role in the life of the child, who resides in Portugal and depends on the animal to deal with the challenges of autistic spectrum disorder.
Teddy’s trip was made by the child’s sister, who was accompanied by a coach. They departed from Rio de Janeiro on a flight on May 30th. TAP had canceled a previous flight, claiming that the court decision that allowed the dog to transport in the cabin was not in accordance with its operational rules. The company also argued that the animal did not have the necessary documentation to travel with passengers.
After the company’s negative, the family was informed that it could be transported in the luggage compartment, a proposal that was promptly rejected. The presence of the coach was the solution found to ensure that the Labrador could travel in the cabin as he could better manage the animal’s behavior during the flight. TAP said it has always sought alternatives to accommodate the dog and that the final solution was accepted by the family.
Teddy’s situation had already been the subject of a previous court decision in April, when the family struggled to prove that the labrador was a service dog. Faced with the emotional suffering caused by separation, the family appealed to court, which determined that Teddy should be transported in the cabin, at no additional costs to the tutor’s sister. After the company’s new negative, the sister and coach finally managed to board the dog, ensuring that he could be next to the child.
*Report produced with the aid of AI
