In our Back to School program this year my law partner, Haley Turner, has been talking about service animals. Haley puts emphasis on the definition of this term that school districts must comply with. A service animal is “a dog” and sometimes a miniature horse. But it’s not a cat, ferret, goldfish, parrot, donkey, or turkey.

Which brought to mind the story I read of the Delta passenger who was allowed to bring a turkey on board the airplane. Here’s the picture:

It’s important to point out that airlines have to be more like Noah than schools do. The federal Air Carrier Access Act requires carriers to permit an “emotional support or psychiatric service animal” on board. The regulation excludes snakes, other reptiles, ferrets, rodents and spiders, but most everything else is permissible, including turkeys. A “service animal” for school purposes can only be a dog or a miniature horse.

Why miniature horses? Who knows?

DAWG BONE: DOGS. OR DAWGS.

Got a question or comment for the Dawg? Let me hear from you at jwalsh@wabsa.com.

Tomorrow: student with an IEP transfers in….