Airlines Can Now Ban Emotional Support Animals On Flights

According to a press release from the US Department of Transportation, airlines in the US can now ban emotional support animals from riding in the cabin. This ruling puts a final say on the "emotional support" debate that has tied airlines into accepting everything from chickens, snakes, and even peacocks and lizards from riding alongside their owners.

This issue has been goin on for the past few years and many feel like it has just grown out of control. The US Department of Transportation in the past has stated that dogs, cats, even miniature horses could be accepted as service animals however with this new ruling only dogs are going to be considered legitimate service animals on commercial flights.

According to the press release these are a few of the changes taking place:

• Defines a service animal as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability;
• No longer considers an emotional support animal to be a service animal;
• Allows airlines to require a person with a disability seeking to travel with a service animal to provide the DOT service animal form(s) at the passenger’s departure gate on the date of travel;
• Allows airlines to require a service animal to fit within its handler’s foot space on the aircraft;
• Allows airlines to require that service animals be harnessed, leashed, or tethered at all times in the airport and on the aircraft.

Click HERE to read the complete press release from the US Department of Transportation.