Emotional support animals may be bumped from planes

WASHINGTON >> The days of passengers bringing rabbits, turtles and birds on planes as emotional support animals could be ending.

The U.S. Department of Transportation on Wednesday proposed that only specially trained dogs qualify as service animals, which must be allowed in the cabin at no charge. Airlines could let passengers bring other animals on board for a fee.

Airlines say the number of support animals has been growing dramatically, and they have lobbied to tighten the rules. They also imposed their own restrictions in response to passengers who show up at the airport with pigs, pheasants, snakes and other unusual pets. “This is a wonderful step in the right direction for people like myself who are dependent on and reliant on legitimate service animals that perform a task to mitigate our disability,” said Albert Rizzi, founder of My Blind Spot, which advocates for accessibility for people of different ability levels.

— The Associated Press