QOTD #56789: “Should only trained service dogs be allowed on airplanes, or is any comforting pet OK?”

“I believe that airplane passengers should be able to bring any pet that provides them with emotional support with them. I understand that animals that are not trained to be service animals come with their own set of complications because they may not be as disciplined, but I do think that gatekeeping who is allowed to bring a pet and who- what qualifies as emotional support feels wrong.”

“I mean, some things could be a little weird. I've heard about service alligators or something. I couldn't imagine one of those being on a airplane, but, you know, whatever people need that's on them, you know? So if they allow it, then I guess we just gotta get comfortable with it.”

“I mean, I'm fine with it because my cats don't travel with me, but I definitely think cats are also very important emotional support animals. I have one. So, I think that they should be allowed to fly because they're in cages. They're not gonna be out and about. They're not gonna hurt anybody. I think it should be fine.”

“I think they made the right decisions to choose dogs only and allowing only service dogs to, um, go in- to be in stores or on the plane. I think we have to put a limit somewhere or else people will just start bringing all sorts of pets with them.”

“You know, there's definitely always gonna be people who find a way to abuse anything beneficial. So letting, you know, letting dogs be support animals that are allowed on planes, I mean, as long as the dog can prove it's a support animal? Yeah, totally. Yeah, don't shut the door on people who need it. But maybe there should be some kind of test before the plane. Maybe.”

“The Department of Transportation says it's only allowing dogs to be service animals, and I think that's pretty unreasonable. Of course, people are abusing the system. I know people who have done that myself, but we don't know what other people are going through, and if a service dog is not the right choice for them and they would prefer to have a cat or anything else, that should be viable too.”

“So I think that the Department of Transportation is not in the right by trying to make, you know, um, only dogs be service animals. And I have a dog, and I still think that if everywhere else a service animal can be something else, then it should be on a plane too.”

“Nope, I don't think it's fair. I don't think it's fair that the Department of Transportation is limiting service animals to dogs. I think that you should be able to bring whatever animal you're connected with on a plane... within size reason, like, don't bring a horse on a plane. But if you have, like, a service goat and that goat helps you bring yourself from up here back to where you need to be, bring your goat, bro. I do think that the process to be certified should be harder. The animals should definitely be trained. But if you need a goat, bring your goat, bro.”

“Look, you put whatever animal you need on that airplane. You could put the cockatoo in the cockpit. You put the elephant in the elevator, on a escalator, and take it and sit it right beside you. [Whether] an elephant or a cockatoo or dog, cat - doesn't matter. Let it be on a plane.”

“I think that the rule change is pretty fair because in a lot of times, it's obvious that people are just using their exotic pets as service animals - be able to take them with them anywhere. But I think they should expand the rule to include probably cats and maybe a little more because people do actually use cats as service animals.”

“No, I don't think that's fair. I think that's animal discrimination. You know, I love support dogs, I think they do a great job, but, you know, are you telling me a cat can't be a support animal, or maybe a support ferret? Like, a support hamster, even? You never know.”

“Only dogs are allowed to be service animals? Come on. In Florida there's a lady with an alligator as a service animal. I mean, that might be taking it too far, but I think they could expand it maybe just a little bit more to allow maybe cats - even a hamster if it's in a cage on an airplane. I know flyers have taken advantage, but come on.”

“I think the Department of Transportation should really allow any animal that you would consider a pet or a pet that you own - or an animal that you own, I'm sorry - and I think that you should do whatever you would like. I mean, what's the difference? As long as the animal is not disturbing anybody on the plane - That's a totally different story. But whatever you own is what you own. You should be able to take that wherever you go.”

“I agree with the Department of Transportation with allowing service dogs. If it helps the person while flying, then I think it is totally okay, and I do not think that anyone is taking advantage of anything.”

“Well, I mean, cats can definitely - I mean, if- if you're gonna have dogs, definitely you gotta have cats. I think that's - I mean, I get that flyers have been taking advantage of that, but, like, I don't know. It's kinda none of your business, so yeah.”

“I think as long as your animal is within reason and it does what you need it to do, you should be allowed to have it on a plane. Obviously, we're not bringing an elephant on a plane, but if you need, um, a frog- a frog, if it helps you, if it genuinely helps you, take it.”

“Personally, I think yeah, probably it should be restricted to just service dogs, and maybe just to be dog and cats 'cuz it's gone crazy right now. There's, like, you know, service peacocks and all that. So I think it should just be cat and dogs and that's it. No raccoons, no weird animals.”

“I believe any animal can be a social service animal because they have that potential. So, I think every one should be allowed.”

“I think that all animals should be allowed on planes . I think that we should , In fact , you know , pit them together based on based on what they are , like dogs and cats and one area birds and snakes and just makes the whole plane right go faster that way .”