974: Emotional Support Animals | Skeptical Sunday

Incident Examples

Real-life incidents involving emotional support animals on planes have highlighted significant problems. Michael Regilio shares a 2019 Forbes article noting an 84% rise in dog-related incidents from 2016 to 2018, including a Delta flight where a passenger's emotional support dog attacked another passenger, causing severe injuries 1. Jordan Harbinger adds that while some animals are docile, others cause serious disruptions, such as a Southwest Airlines flight where an emotional support dog bit a six-year-old girl during boarding 2.

The report states that there was so much blood, the entire row of seats had to be replaced.

--- Michael Regilio

These incidents underscore the need for stricter regulations and better control over emotional support animals.

   

Regulatory Changes

Regulatory changes have been implemented to address the misuse of emotional support animal laws. Jordan Harbinger compares the situation to the early days of medical marijuana, where obtaining a license was remarkably easy 3. Michael Regilio explains that both parties in the emotional support animal transaction often have selfish motives, with healthcare practitioners looking to make quick money and patients wanting to take their pets everywhere 3.

Both parties in the emotional support animal transaction are there for selfish reasons.

--- Michael Regilio

These changes, implemented in 2020 by the Department of Transportation, aim to tighten the rules and reduce such abuses.