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A backlash is building over the growing array of pets that are beginning to turn up as flight passengers’ service animals.
With pets such as lizards, ducks and pigs emerging as “service” or “emotional support” animals, many are questioning if owners are just trying to find a way to cheat the system and fly their pets for free.
A news station producer even applied for an emotional support animal designation to see if they could trip up Sherman Oaks, California psychotherapist Carla Black – who is known as an “authority on support animals” – ABC 7 reported.
The producer filled out an online survey, writing that he felt stress at work and had bad memories from 9/11. Following the survey, Black said that he “qualified for an ESA,” which had the news station up in arms over ethics standards.
Black defended herself with a lengthy statement in which she shared that she had based her diagnosis on answers to a “comprehensive questionnaire containing over 70 questions.”
RELATED: 5 Reasons Why Trading in Your Therapist for a Dog May Be a Smart Move
So that begs the question – is the unique service pet game just a racket to get your animals to fly for free? Not according to Carla Fitzgerald, who made headlines back in October after flying with her emotional support duck, Daniel.
Fitzgerald, who used to be a horse-and-carriage driver in Milwaukee, had to spend four months just learning how to walk again after a terrible crash sent her flying from her carriage and left her with an injured horse and serious post-traumatic stress disorder.
She says Daniel, who now accompanies her everywhere, has helped her recuperate. And Fitzgerald is not standing for any criticism of her duck pal.
One woman brought a duck on a flight, showing dogs are not the only real support animal. Image via Twitter @mark_essig
“Here’s the thing. Who are we to say what is and what isn’t an emotional support animal or what can and cannot be a pet? Or what they can do for people who have PTSD like I do? Having it is hell,” she said.
Who, indeed?
