I have known several vet students who forged or otherwise acquired the necessary documents for "service animal" status and my advice is show some ethics and don't give in. It is cheaper and easier, but says little about your character in my opinion.
The easiest alternative, in my opinion, is to wait until the blackout period from american airlines (AA) is over and use them to bring your pets while traveling with them. The other possibility is to send them via amerijet. I have experience only with AA and never had problems with them. Neither option is very cheap.
Ask some vet students...many have all sorts of opinions on these options.