Jan. 7—I think we’re all glad to see 2021 pass into history, but at least one piece of lasting good came out of it: Airlines banned so-called “emotional support animals” from passenger cabins, backed up by the authority of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The DOT closed a loophole that had long been exploited by people who wanted free rides for their pets.
Businesses and municipalities are cracking down on the practice of bringing pets where pets shouldn’t be, too. Good for them.
Right at the start, let’s differentiate between pets and service animals, which serve a legitimate need for people with disabilities. Such animals are specially trained to do tasks for people and are certified by real authorities. They should be allowed wherever they need to be.
Let’s also be clear that there may be real emotional needs filled by an animal, particularly in the case of people with diagnosed mental health needs, such as veterans or others with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
This isn’t about them.
A woman was kicked off a U.S. Airways flight in 2014 after initially being allowed to board with an 80-pound “emotional support” pig.
That’s right. A pig on an plane.
Unfortunately for the woman’s fellow passengers, the pig relieved itself in the aisle while its emotionally supported owner stowed her luggage. It also squealed loudly.
As I said, the porker and its patron were purged from the passenger plane, but I’m betting the essence of the swine’s relief accompanied the remaining travelers on their journey.
In 2018, a woman attempted to take her “emotional support” peacock on a United Airlines flight from Newark. To United’s credit, the bird didn’t fly that day. It didn’t even board the plane.
About the same time, Delta Airlines issued a statement: “Customers have attempted to fly with comfort turkeys, gliding possums known as sugar gliders, snakes, spiders and more,” it said. “Ignoring the true intent of existing rules governing the transport of service and support animals can…