U.S changes rules on, on flight support animals

The U.S Department of Transportation said effective Wednesday only dogs will qualify as service or support animals on planes.

An emotional support peacock was turned away from a New Jersey airport in 2018

The government department said the rule change is in response to passengers' constant abuse of the policy. Some passengers would declare animals such as peacocks and pigs as support animals, forcing airlines to accommodate them and allow the wild bird to board the cabin with other travelers.

According to the new law, service dogs are defined as "individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability." Other animals will be forced to fly in cages in the cargo compartment.

Stats by trade group Airlines For America show that in 2016, 481,000 pets were declared by passengers as emotional support animals then in 2017 the number spiked to 751,000.

"The Department of Transportation's final rule will protect the traveling public and airline crewmembers from untrained animals in the cabin, as well as improve air travel accessibility for passengers with disabilities that travel with trained service dogs," Airlines for America President Nicholas E Calio said in a statement.

"The days of Noah's Ark in the air are hopefully coming to an end," Association of Flight Attendants President Sara Nelson told USA Today on Wednesday.

By: Niza Nondo