Spending a lot of time in US airports I thinks it’s kind of neat. There aren’t dogs everywhere and they are well behaved. I’m sure if you had a mongrel you wouldn’t embarrass yourself and take it on a flight. Unlike the Bogans with their kids. And of course, you wouldn't expect it to not be a big issue in Australia with evacuation scenarios created by an Oztronaut mindset-what about half the population being so obese they won’t get out an exit in at timely fashion anyways.
I also like the way serving and retired US personnel get a priority boarding and are acknowledged. Wouldn’t expect that gesture to get much traction in Australia either.