DOT bans emotional support animals on flights after system ‘abused with unusual pets’

DOT bans emotional support animals on flights after system ‘abused with unusual pets’ | Secret Flying

Airlines to ban emotional support animals on flights.

 

Emotional support animals are now banned from US airlines after customers started to bring unusual pets on board.

 

The Department of Transportation (DOT) said Wednesday it will no longer require airlines to make the same accommodations for emotional support animals as they do for trained service dogs.

 

The non-service pets would now be subjected to flying in the cargo hold for a fee.

 

The DOT said complaints from passengers, inconsistent service animal definitions, fraudulent representations and animal misbehaviour led to the change in policy.

 

Previously, passengers would only need a note from a health professional to bring an emotional support animal on board.

 

The DOT claims this practice has “eroded the public trust in legitimate service animals.”

 

Ferrets, birds of prey, snakes, insects, hedgehogs and goats will all soon be banned on US flights.

 

Miniature horses and Capuchin monkeys, that are legitimate service animals, are also banned from the new policy which takes effect in 30 days.

 

Only dogs can be defined as service animals now.

 

You can read the full rule change here.