If you've ever been annoyed to discover that your seatmate on a flight was an"emotional support" miniature horse, you'll be pleased to hear that the
Department of Transportation has issued a new rule that allows airlines in the US to ban animals like pigs, snakes, and even peacocks from riding in the cabin alongside their ownersThe agency issued guidance last year stating that a wide range of animals could be accepted as service animals, but after passengers seemingly scammed the system by"fraudulently representing their pets as service animals" to transport"unusual species of animals" more easily, it collected more than...
This led to the DOT reversing course on Wednesday by stating that only dogs are to be considered legitimate"service animals" on commercial flights.According to the new rule, such service animals are limited to dogs who are"individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability." It also states that"emotional support animals" are no longer considered to be service animals.
The rule states that airlines can also limit the number of service animals traveling with a single passenger to two and require them to fit within the owner's foot space on the plane. The rule adds that airlines may"require that service animals be harnessed, leashed, or tethered at all times.
Airlines can now require that passengers supply forms attesting to a service animal's health, behavior, and training, and any animal not meeting these qualifications will have to be checked into the plane's cargo hold, likely for an additional fee.
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