In need of transatlantic assistance

Barbara Diamond

The Battle of Hastings in 1066 was the first and most decisive

victory in the Norman Conquest of England.

Laguna Beach resident Michael Osborn is prepared to fight a new

battle of Hastings, on behalf of physically challenged travelers and

their assistance dogs worldwide.

Osborn, who is blind and always has his guide dog Hastings by his

side, is preparing a formal proposal to petition the English

Parliament to change a law that prohibits dogs from traveling in the

cabin of an airplane with their humans on long flights from North

America to the United Kingdom.

“The problem with the law is that assistance dogs are treated like

any other pet,” Osborn said.

Osborn has put many trips to England on hold because Hastings

would be stuck in the plane’s hold. Until the law changes, the

closest to England he will get is the red telephone box on Forest

Avenue.

“Most, if not all users of assistance dogs will not travel

separated from their guide, and thus we are unable to travel to

England,” Osborn said.

The law is based on a policy statement written by an executive and

the head veterinarian for the British Guide Dogs for the Blind Assn.,

Osborn said.

“The position is based on the their belief that it is better for

the dogs to travel in the holds on long flights,” Osborn said.

“That’s ludicrous. The bond achieved between guide dog and master is

strained when the two are apart, especially in new and different

surroundings. Each airplane trip has different sounds, different

people and different events that occur over the time of the flight.

“Master and guide dog are trained as a team,” he said. “If you

separate them, you can do incredible harm.”

Hastings provides Osborn with mobility and independence.

“Putting him in the hold would mean I would have to go back to my

white cane and rely on total strangers,” Osborn said.

Osborn learned about the British law, known as the United Kingdom

Pet Travel Scheme, at a conference held in Paris in October 2002.

Hastings accompanied him. Osborn has been told that English dogs are

not trained for long flights in cabins.

American guide dogs are.

Osborn and Hastings, now 3, have been together for almost 1 1/2

years. They trained together at a facility in San Rafael. Training

included teaching Hastings to lie down in front of Osborn under seats

donated by an airline and information on feeding, watering and

elimination

Crates, sometimes called flying kennels, are too big to be stable

in an airplane, so dogs are hooked up to seat belts. Liquids and food

are restricted before long flights, and waste mats are provided in

case of accidents.

“My dog has never had to use the mat, and I travel the world

over,” Osborn said. “In the past six months, I have been to France,

Australia and New Zealand, and Hastings has traveled with me in the

cabin of the aircraft with no problem.”

The trip from Los Angeles to Melbourne is the longest plane trip,

14 to 15 hours. Ice chips kept Hastings hydrated and rarely allowed

dog treats kept his tummy happy, if not as full as usual.

Hastings handled the trip with aplomb, Osborn said, although he

did get a little piqued when government officials dumped the dog food

Osborn had packed for their stay in Australia.

Since Osborn started the 2003 Battle of Hastings, he said he has

been deluged with inquiries and support.

His proposal will include letters from veterinarians and

organizations around the world that dispute the recommendations of

the British association and a document written by Ken Rosenthal,

chair of the International Guide Dog Federation, that argues that

assistance dogs can and do travel more than five hours with no

difficulty.

Osborn said the proposal will be submitted to the manager of the

Pet Travel Scheme and to the British minister of the Department for

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, who will take it to Parliament.

Parliament is in recess, but will convene in September.