“My wife was sitting at the counter in tears in front of 200 people crying, shaking”, said Haag.
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Harley, a chihuahua from Berthoud, Colorado, who was rescued from a puppy mill four years ago, was named the American Humane Association’s 2015 American Hero Dog.
Haag, a recovering alcoholic who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was paired with Axel in 2012 through K9s for Warriors. “These courageous canines have gone above and beyond the call of duty, saving lives on the battlefield, comforting the ill, aged and afflicted, bringing hope to those who have lost it and reminding us of the powerful, age-old bond between animals and people”.
Marine Capt. Jason Haag, his wife and his dog Axel were left stranded in Los Angeles overnight Sunday, without their luggage, because American Airlines employees didn’t believe Haag when he told them Axel was a service dog.
Axel was also wearing a harness and vest clearly identifying him as a service dog, and the airline was given credible verbal assurance at the time a boarding pass was issued.
“The first question the guy asks me was very combative”.
“What was my disability and what was wrong with me?”
“He can take me out of anxiety attacks, he can pull me out of flashbacks … my dog is my lifeline”, he said.
Haag posted an update that even though he didn’t fly home, staff members with the American Humane Association have re-booked the couple’s flights, got them a hotel and some clean clothes. “We’d love an apology”, stated Haag.
On its website, American Airlines notes that “service animals are welcome on all flights”.
“We have apologized to both Haag and his family and are very appreciative of his service to our country”, Huguely added. The fifth annual awards ceremony, held by the American Humane Association, awards an inspiring dog out of eight chosen finalists, according to City News Service. In this case, the airline did not even follow its own guidelines. Thank you all for your support. “An airline representative later stated to American Humane Association’s legal counsel that Capt. Haag needed to have a medical alert card, which is not, in fact, a requirement”.
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“We need to make a national and a statewide registration process and a certification process and we need to come up with some type of national and state ID”, Haag said.
