The government is out with new rules about which animals can fly with you.
The Department of Transportation notes it no longer considers an emotional support animal to be a service animal, paving the way for airlines to ban them. Policies will be set by individual airlines but must conform to the DOT rules.
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The new rules announced Tuesday aim to settle years of disputes between passengers and airlines because some many passengers tried to get their pets to fly for free claiming they were needed for emotional support.
Do you remember the emotional support peacock? You're still welcome to fly with your pet, but they'll have to be checked into the cargo hold and you'll have to pay a pet fee.
Airlines will now require passengers provide documentation for service dogs. The new rule will go into effect in 30 days.
“This is a wonderful step in the right direction for people like myself who are dependent on and reliant on legitimate service animals,” said Albert Rizzi, founder of My Blind Spot, an advocacy group for people with disabilities, told USA Today. He said some people “want to have the benefits of having a disability without actually losing the use of their limbs or senses just so they can take their pet with them.”
The changes are a departure from the previous DOT guidance issued last year, which said that airlines could not restrict passengers from traveling with emotional support animals, nor could they ban a specific breed or species of support animal.
Airlines are currently prohibited from refusing service dogs based on their breed, and that prohibition will continue under the new rules.