OpenClimb

Hi Cardiomd,

Are you sure about this? If so, I'd like to encourage my airline to stop allowing emotional support animals for a variety of reasons. I'm sure I can employ some Google-Fu and come up with a more complete legal basis (or lack thereof) for the emotional support animal sham, but if you know the law off the top of your head, it would kickstart my research.

It's my opinion that the emotional support animal situation is completely out of control and hurts and/or inconveniences far more people than it helps. IMHO, if a person is so emotionally unstable so as to require a pet pig as a travel companion to prevent an emotional breakdown over the course of a 3 hour flight, then that person probably shouldn't be locked in an (mostly) airtight tube with 230+/- other passengers for hours on end.

Like so many things that started off well-intentioned, I think the emotional support animal craze has managed to soil the more legitimate laws such as the ADA designed to protect citizens with legitimate special needs.

OpenClimb

Lighten up Francis. Just because LNL made an ill-advised statement doesn't mean it's HATE.

This self-righteous social shaming is out of control. If we keep using such extreme language for every situation, words will eventually have no meaning.

qball

Right now you can qualify to have an emotional support animal, on line for 79 bucks. No actual visit to a doctor. Imagine if you really had to see a doctor, pay what that might cost and renew it (with cost) on an annual basis. That would probably weed out a vast majority of the BS. Sad for those who really do need an emotional support animal. One of the last emotional support dogs I had on one of my flights tried to bite one of the FAs.

badflaps

I want an emotional support Coral Snake who will bite everyone in sight and make me feel better.

qball

Hey. Just 79 bucks on line

LNL76

Sorry but snakes, ferrets and I believe spiders are not approved ESAs. I'm sure that'll change at some point.

qball

Probably just need a little surcharge.

badflaps

I will knit him a turtle neck. They will think that he is a Hollywood producer.

Dodo

Seriously? Are you gunning for TOTD?

LNL may have misunderstood emotional support vs. guide dog, but her point still stands. If you can't see through someone's mistake and choose to bite their head off with an inane post like the one above, perhaps you're fit for the TOTD nomination.

CBreezy

I said please. Would a smiley face have taken the edge off more?

If someone went on an angry rant about taxes and ended it with, thanks IRS, it is logical to assume she blames the issue and is directing the anger toward the IRS. Regardless of whether the IRS is to blame, or the ADA in this example, being ignorant is not an excuse for blaming an organization or bill who has no role in what is causing your anger. Stop getting offended over two sentences on a message board.