NEWS
Airlines Cracking Down on Emotional Support Animals
Source: Alamy
A new ruling from the US Department of Transportation regarding emotional support animals is garnering praise from the airline industry after the DOT announced air carriers are permitted to limit service animals to dogs.
The DOT announced Wednesday that “carriers are not required to recognize emotional support animals as service animals and may treat them as pets.”
According to CNN, the final ruling on Traveling by Air with Service Animals defines a service animal as “a dog, regardless of breed, that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability, including physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.”
The new rule allows airlines to require passengers traveling with service animals to fill out and submit a DOT form “attesting to the animal’s training and good behavior, and certifying the animal’s good health.” Airlines can also refuse animals that display aggressive behavior.
The new ruling comes after passengers have flown in recent years with support animals ranging from rabbits, pigs, turkeys, and even a peacock.
According to NBC, the ruling will become effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
