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U.S. Government Ends "Emotional Support" Animal Requirement for Airlines

posted by Fnord666 on Friday December 04 2020, @06:06AM   Printer-friendly
from the best-friends dept.

takyon writes:

US ends era of emotional support animals on planes

US airlines will no longer be required to transport emotional support animals after passengers insisted on bringing on board their horses, pigs, peacocks and turkeys for psychological reasons.

Wednesday's rule change by the US Department of Transportation now says only dogs qualify as service animals.

The agency said unusual animals on flights had "eroded the public trust in legitimate service animals".

Airlines say the old policy had been abused and was dangerous.

The new rule defines service dogs as "individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability", and says other animals should be treated by airlines as pets that can be placed in the cargo hold for a fee.

Previously: The Confusion About Pets (archive)
"Emotional Support Animals" Riding With Owners Aboard Commercial Airlines Flights

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 3, Touché) by shortscreen on Friday December 04 2020, @10:45AM (6 children)

    by shortscreen (2252) on Friday December 04 2020, @10:45AM (#1083983) Journal

    I would've thought that airlines need all the passengers they can get these days. Not being able to fill those equine-class seats is going to be a bummer for their bottom line.

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  • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Friday December 04 2020, @12:57PM

    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Friday December 04 2020, @12:57PM (#1083991) Homepage Journal

    I think that passengers over 50 or 60 pounds have always been required to buy a ticket, haven't they?

    --
    Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 04 2020, @03:56PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 04 2020, @03:56PM (#1084041)

    Mr. Ed is my co-pilot.

  • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Friday December 04 2020, @04:50PM (3 children)

    by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Friday December 04 2020, @04:50PM (#1084067) Journal

    Will they restrict animals who travel with an emotional support human?

    --
    The thing about landline phones is that they never get lost. No air tag necessary.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 04 2020, @10:00PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 04 2020, @10:00PM (#1084174)

      Maybe at the vet

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 04 2020, @10:06PM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 04 2020, @10:06PM (#1084175)

      Will the vet restrict animals from having emotional support humans?

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 04 2020, @10:17PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 04 2020, @10:17PM (#1084177)

        Maybe Gorilla Grodd needs an emotional support human ... I wonder if these highly intelligent gorillas allow humans in their facilities for emotional support purposes.