Many airlines try to limit the animals allowed in the cabin to only cats and dogs, but a new guideline issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation may soon change the list. In a report by The Drive, DoT encourages airlines to allow miniature horses as service animals for flyers.
Although miniature horses are not very common household pets, they rank as one of the most popular service animals, along with cats and dogs. They are known to provide essential services to people who have visual impairments and other disabilities.
“[A]fter reviewing the comments on this issue, we believe that it would be in the public interest and within our discretionary authority to prioritize ensuring that the most commonly recognized service animals (i.e., dogs, cats, and miniature horses) are accepted for transport,” DoT stated.
To clarify, this does not mean that ALL airlines are obligated to board therapy mini horses by law, but if they ignore the new guideline, they could face a penalty. The document released by DoT also stated that every animal brought to an airline, whether a pig or peacock, should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Ferrets, rodents, snakes, reptiles, and spiders are the only animals banned by commercial flight companies.
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