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ARTICLE · 21 DECEMBER 2020

No More Friendly Skies For Emotional Support Animals

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Seyfarth Synopsis: Emotional support animals will no longer be categorized as "service animals" under the Air Carrier Access Act under new Department of Transportation regulations.

United StatesEnvironment
Kevin Fritz
Kevin Fritz
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Seyfarth Synopsis: Emotional support animals will no longer be categorized as "service animals" under the Air Carrier Access Act under new Department of Transportation regulations.

Questionable verifications for certain assistance animals have frustrated the airline industry for years. From peacocks to pigs, all sorts of furry and feathered companions have accompanied individuals on domestic and international flights in the guise of "emotional support animals" (ESAs) sitting pretty in cabins next to their owners. While stories of such support animals are entertaining, complaints from passengers, increasing requests to transport unusual species of animals on board aircrafts disguised as ESAs, and thousands of comments in the rulemaking process prompted the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to take action. Just last week the DOT declared that airlines "are not required to recognize emotional support animals as service animals and may treat them as pets." This

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