Phony support animals

Dogs, cats, turkeys, pigs, rabbits, hamsters, marmots, even iguanas? No, you haven’t wandered into a zoo or a pet shop. This is a U.S. airline cabin, and those aren’t pets; they’re emotional support animals. If you have the bad luck to be seated next to someone with one, be grateful that snakes and ferrets aren’t allowed.

Some of these are actual service animals. Many, though, fall into a looser category of animals that are supposedly helpful to travellers who don’t have blindness or PTSD, but might feel less anxious with a nonhuman companion. The U.S. Air Carrier Access Act has been interpreted to require airlines to accommodate passengers who need — or claim to need — an animal for emotional support. The policy is an invitation to people willing to scam the system without regard for their cabin mates.

Delta Air Lines says it has experienced an 84 per cent increase in “animal incidents,” including urination, defecation and biting, since 2016. So it is taking action.

As of March 1, each owner will have to provide veterinary health and vaccination records, a letter documenting the traveller’s need and a signed “confirmation of training form” at least 48 hours before takeoff.

It’s a sensible step, and one other airlines should consider in the interests of the many passengers who don’t evade rules, lie and put others at risk to save money. The change will work to the benefit of those travellers with real conditions that warrant accommodation of their support animals.