A lobbying group for several airlines wants the federal government to ban all emotional support animals except dogs from flights.
Airlines for America made the request in a report to the U.S. Department of Transportation, The Mercury News reports. The organization represents nine airlines, including United, American, Southwest and Jetblue.
In 2017, U.S. airlines accommodated more than 750,000 emotional support animals in-cabin, according to the report.
The organization stated that “our member airlines have experienced a disturbing growth in the number of passengers with questionable claims of disability seeking to travel with animals that they suggest are necessary to provide ’emotional support,’ but which are not trained as service animals (or even trained at all to behave in public settings like aircraft or airports).
“These animals, which may include wild and/or untrainable species, often are unable to behave appropriately in a public setting, including within the confines of an aircraft cabin.”
Earlier this month, Delta said it would no longer accept “pit bull type” dogs as service or support animals as of July 10. It’s also introducing a limit of one emotional support animal per customer per flight.
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In May, American said it would no longer allow certain animals, including insects, hedgehogs and goats, under its emotional support animal policy.
Read more at The Mercury News
