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| 2.2.18

Should Emotional Support Animals Be Regulated?

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What’s the story?

Airlines – including Delta and United - are tightening restrictions on "emotional support animals" (ESAs).

While United claims their updated policy has been months in the making, the move comes days after a woman tried to bring her emotional support peacock on a flight departing Newark Airport.

"The Department of Transportation’s rules regarding emotional support animals are not working as they were intended to, prompting us to change our approach in order to ensure a safe and pleasant travel experience for all of our customers," United said in a statement.

What does it matter?

As the Washington Post explained, "Federal guidelines specify that airlines must permit passengers with disabilities to board with trained service animals or emotional-support animals of many stripes, regardless of the animal’s potential to ‘offend or annoy’ others on the plane."

ESAs are protected under the Air Carrier Access Act and the Fair Housing Act. They are not covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Airlines, however, have some wiggle room (sorry) in denying boarding to certain "unusual" service animals, including snakes and other reptiles, ferrets, rodents, and spiders.

United spokesman Charlie Hobart told USA Today that the number of comfort animals flying on the airline jumped from 43,000 in 2016 to 76,000 last year.

Effective March 1, United’s new policy, outlined in a press release, requires that customers flying with an ESA provide the airline:

  • 48 hours' notice

  • a letter from a mental health professional confirming the passenger’s disability and need for an ESA

  • confirmation of the animal's training

  • veterinary health records

What do you think?

Should airlines or the government decide rules for emotional support animals? Should the ADA be modified to include ESAs? Hit Take Action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman

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Photo Credit: dexterthepeacock via Instagram)