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Viral: Passenger's Great Dane As "Support" Dog On Flight Sparks Debate
Viral video questions the idea of "support animals" on flight.
Emotional support animals (ESA) offer their owners significant therapeutic advantages by providing comfort and unconditional love. Many people cannot imagine traveling without their ESA. For many, these animals provide a sense of security, especially in high-stress environments like air travel. But while emotional support animals are meant to improve the well-being of their owners, their presence on a commercial flight can sometimes raise concerns among fellow passengers and crew members, especially when the animal in question is large or difficult to manage.
A recent incident aboard a commercial flight brought this issue into the spotlight when a passenger boarded with a gigantic Great Dane, purportedly as an emotional support animal. The video of the encounter, shared by a content creator, quickly went viral.
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In the footage, the flight attendant greets the dog's owner, but her unenthusiastic reaction to the enormous dog, followed by an accidental step on her foot, highlighted the discomfort caused by the animal's presence. The dog's owner immediately apologised, but the interaction raised eyebrows, prompting the content creator to question, "Have we taken this support animal thing too far?"
Watch the video here:The video sparked a number of responses, with many people expressing concern over the presence of such a large-sized animal on a plane.
One user wrote, "Emotional support for one person, emotional distress for hundreds! This is ridiculous."
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Some passengers questioned whether the dog was an assisted therapy or service dog. One user wrote, "Not a service animal. Probably an 'emotional support' animal, which is not the same thing. Doesn't belong in the cabin."
Others raised concerns about the dog's equipment, with one commenting, "A real service dog wouldn't need a prong," and another adding, "No support animal should need a prong collar." Great Danes, known for their imposing size, are one of the largest dog breeds, weighing anywhere between 60 and 80 kgs and standing up to 34 inches tall. Flying with pets in India? What you must know: Air India provides pet travel options for both the cabin and the cargo hold, depending on the size of the pet's carrier. However, the final decision rests with the flight commander, who evaluates each situation on a case-by-case basis. Akasa Air also welcomes furry companions, offering both cabin and cargo compartment travel options. Currently, Akasa's pet travel service is available on domestic flights within India. IndiGo allows service dogs for customers with disabilities, subject to specific terms and conditions outlined on their website.Handler Of Super-Sized Pooch He Brought On Airplane As "Emotional Support" Gets Reality Check
A Great Dane boarding a plane sparked heated debate. While some slammed a flight attendant's visibly annoyed reaction, others criticized the inappropriateness of the size of the pet allowed as an emotional support animal. Taking to his Instagram page on Sunday (December 15), life coach Rob asked: "Have we taken this support animal thing too far?"
Rob shared a clip, which has since amassed nearly 6 million views. In the video, seemingly filmed from Rob's seat, a Great Dane could be seen boarding the plane.
The Great Dane, sometimes labeled the "Apollo of Dogs," is a breed of dog that can measure up to 32 inches (81 centimeters) and weigh up to 175 pounds (just over 79 kilograms).
A Great Dane boarding a plane sparked heated debateImage credits: Suhyeon Choi/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Moreover, it is one of the two largest dog breeds in the world, along with the Irish Wolfhound. Safe to say that the pooch made an impressive entrance when entering the plane.
So much so that the flight attendant welcoming the passengers was captured making an apparent irritated face.
In the video, the same flight attendant could also be heard exclaiming, "Ow!" as the majestic four-legged friend accidentally stepped on her foot.
The viral clip left many people divided—an Instagram user commented: "Not a single 'dog lover' criticized the owner for the metal pinch collar around that pup's neck, but we're trashing the flight attendant for being annoyed her she has to accommodate the owner's additional 'needs,' and complications a huge pet like that might cause.
Image credits: stock.Adobe (not the actual photo)
Some slammed a flight attendant's visibly annoyed reactionImage credits: clearpath_coach
"She's a flight attendant, not a dog sitter, and yes…not a child care provider either (speaking to parents who don't control their children on flights).
"We have such a lack of respect for service workers and courtesy for others for the purpose of meeting our own needs—it's absolutely ridiculous to read comments devaluing humans over pets.
"Love my pups, but the world doesn't revolve around me, nor should it revolve around them."
Image credits: clearpath_coach
Others criticized the inappropriateness of the size of the pet allowed as an emotional support animalA person wrote: "Team Flight Attendant."
Someone else penned: "The amount of hate the flight attendant is getting for being STEPPED on is wild."
"Yall care about dogs more than humans," a netizen added. "The flight attendant did nothing wrong. The fact people are bashing her in these comments is absurd."
Image credits: clearpath_coach
Taking to his Instagram page on Sunday (December 15), life coach Rob asked: "Have we taken this support animal thing too far?"A viewer shared: "I'd rather sit next to the sweet giant than another person."
A commentator added: "The dog looks a lot nicer and pleasant than the flight attendant."
A separate individual chimed in: "I am a dog lover, but this is getting absolutely ridiculous. I am all for trained service animals… this is not one of them."
Image credits: Guinness World Records
As opposed to a service animal, which is specially trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability, an emotional support animal provides comfort and companionship but does not require specific training.
As per the Americans with Disabilities Act, trained service dogs are not required to be certified or go through a professional training program, and they are allowed to be with their person even in places that don't allow pets.
The Act further forbids someone from requesting any documentation that the dog is registered, licensed, or certified as a service animal, as well as asking the dog to demonstrate their task or inquire about the nature of the person's disability.
New limitations came after passengers tried getting away with passing off peacocks and snakes as emotional support companionsImage credits: ladbible
While US airlines no longer allow emotional support animals to fly in the cabin without charge, as they do with trained service dogs for disabilities, some international airlines still permit these animals to travel in the cabin, ESA Doctors explains.
To fly with an emotional support animal (ESA) on participating airlines, a traveler generally needs a letter from a licensed mental health professional (LMHP), such as a psychologist or psychiatrist.
This letter confirms that the animal is necessary for the traveler's mental well-being. The LMHP will also need to complete forms provided by the airline to certify the need for an emotional support animal during the flight.
Image credits: juliamarae_
The US Department of Transportation moved to tighten regulations around flying with emotional support critters, insisting that only trained service dogs should be permitted to cruise the clouds with their disabled owners, The New York Post reported in 2020.
"The days of Noah's Ark in the air are hopefully coming to an end," Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants said at the time.
The push for new limitations came after airline passengers tried getting away with passing off peacocks and snakes as emotional support companions.
"It's getting out of hand," a reader commentedThe post Handler Of Super-Sized Pooch He Brought On Airplane As "Emotional Support" Gets Reality Check first appeared on Bored Panda.
Emotional Support Animals For MS
There's no denying 2020 was a bad year, but for Denver's Kate Zerbi it was a living nightmare. She kicked off 2020 with a new diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and a painful breakup, and things got only worse from there.
First, she had a near-fatal case of COVID-19 with long-term health impacts. Later, flesh-eating bacteria entered her body through a microscopic cut she didn't even know she had. "It was high up in my groin, so there was nothing to amputate to stop the spread. Either the antibiotics were going to work, or I was going to die," Zerbi says.
Little did she know that Scout, the German shepherd puppy she got in February of 2020, would become her emotional support animal (ESA) and, she says, "the reason I didn't give up."
At night, when panic would set in, Scout became Zerbi's security blanket. And during the day, Scout senses when Zerbi is about to lose her balance or buckle over in pain. The dog runs to her owner's side before it happens to provide physical or emotional support.
The American Kennel Club describes ESAs as pets that provide daily emotional support and comfort to their owners. By that definition, it would seem that most pets -- even the unconditional ones -- could be ESAs. But an ESA is different from a much-loved pet who brings you joy.
"A true emotional support animal has the ability demonstrate compassion when you're in need. For example, if you're crying with your face in your hands, the dog will come over to you and lick your hands and face as if to say, 'Hey, pay attention to me. Let me love you and take care of you,'" says Lauri Frenkel, founder of A Pet's Purpose in Georgia. The nonprofit rescues and places animals with the potential to be service dogs, therapy dogs, or emotional support animals.
"There are a lot of dogs that make wonderful family pets, but they might not notice if you have a panic attack while they're enjoying a new squeaky toy or bone," Frenkel says.
Many people don't realize that emotional support animals, service animals, and therapy dogs have different roles. However, they can all benefit people with MS.
Emotional support animals: An ESA should provide comfort in ways that align with your specific needs, Frenkel says. If you have MS, an emotional support dog who's in tune with you may also provide physical assistance. For example, they can act as a brace when you have mobility or balance issues.
Even so, your ESA can't always join you wherever you go -- even if you have a doctor's note stating your need for such an animal. Federal law doesn't require businesses, including stores and restaurants, to let them in. The one exception: Housing. Under the Fair Housing Act, you can live with an emotional support animal in places that are otherwise not pet-friendly.
You used to be able to fly with your ESA in the aircraft cabin. That changed in late 2020, when the U.S. Department of Transportation announced changes to some rules and definitions in its Air Carrier Access Act. Now airlines can recognize emotional support animals as pets. And pets often fly in the cargo hold.
Therapy dogs. The goal of pet therapy is to provide comfort and companionship to others, especially patients, caregivers, and staff in health care facilities. Most any breed can be trained to do this job. Nonprofit groups such as Therapy Dogs International evaluate and certify therapy dogs based on their obedience and temperament.
Why might you want to sign your dog up or volunteer with an organization that helps train them if you have MS? One overarching reason is that it can help address some of the physical and emotional challenges of life with this disease. Research links volunteering with:
Service dogs. Service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks that help you live more independently with a disability. These aren't standard obedience tasks like sit and stay. They must be directly related to your disability. If you have MS, a mobility dog can pull a wheelchair or provide physical support (such as bracing) for your balance issues.
Unlike ESAs and therapy dogs, service dogs can go just about any place their owners go. However, if your service animal barks or growls at other people, a business can legally tell you to leave. And you must comply.
You can get a trained service dog from a number of nonprofit and for-profit organizations, but they often come at a high price: in some cases, upward of $25,000. Some charge much less, but Frenkel says many people with disabilities are dismayed by both the cost and the wait to receive a service dog.
If you have MS, you may not need a professionally trained service animal. Perhaps you need an emotional support animal, or an emotional support animal who also happens to be a sturdy and calm enough to lean on when you feel wobbly.
To get one of these special dogs, you can seek out an organization like A Pet's Purpose or hire a dog trainer to work with you and your current dog or a new one. "It's still expensive, but a few thousand dollars for a private trainer is a lot less than $20,000 for an assistance animal," Frenkel says.
She doesn't recommend training a dog yourself, but some people, including Zerbi, do just that.
"I'm teaching Scout obedience commands and she's learning how to differentiate objects," Zerbi says. "In time I'd like her to be able to get me my inhaler and pick up a hairbrush or towel from the floor, plus any other things I think could be useful as my disease progresses."
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