Emotional support animals are companions that a medical professional has prescribed as helpful to someone with a disability. These animals are usually dogs, and can fly aboard planes with their humans. But this woman had different ideas, and brought along her emotional support peacock for her flight to L.A. from Newark Airport.
Needless to say, it didn’t go well. Despite being warned three times that Dexter the peacock would not be allowed to travel with her, conceptual artist Ventiko showed up at the airport anyway. Dexter was promptly turned away by United Airlines, but not before creating a spectacle in the airport and igniting a fierce debate about the merits of emotional support animals and people’s perceived abuse of the system that allows them to travel.
Since he couldn’t get on his flight, Dexter shot out a message on his Instagram outlining the next step. “Spent 6 hours trying to get on my flight to LA. Tomorrow my human friends are going to drive me cross country! Keep an eye out for us!”
Since he was purchased by Ventiko for an art installation some time ago, Dexter has bonded with the artist. He is now a regular part of her art, and we are sure you will see more of the pair in times to come. If nothing else, this airport saga has certainly provided great publicity for them.
Scroll down below to see how the story unfolded below, and let us know what you think in the comments. Should United have let Dexter fly? Or is this an abuse of the emotional support animal premise? We look forward to your opinions!
This is Dexter the emotional support peacock, trying to board a flight from Newark to L.A.
Image credits: thejetsettv
He was denied a seat on the flight, even after his owner, conceptual artist Ventiko, offered to pay for his seat
Image credits: Dexter The Peacock
Emotional support animals are usually dogs, sometimes cats. So it was a surprise to see a peacock at the airport
Image credits: thejetsettv
And it sparked quite a debate among the readers of this story
Others didn’t think it was such a good idea
This event also helped to uncover one of the most awesome Instagram accounts out there
Image credits: Dexter The Peacock
Based in Brooklyn, Dexter and Ventiko like to go on walks together through New York
Image credits: Dexter The Peacock
Their story started when Ventiko purchased Dexter for an art installation
Image credits: Dexter The Peacock
And she found a home for him afterward
Image credits: Dexter The Peacock
But knowing that Dexter was living all alone there, she had to take him with her
Image credits: Dexter The Peacock
And they bonded immediately
Image credits: Dexter The Peacock
Now they’ve been together ever since and he works with her on her art projects
Image credits: Dexter The Peacock
And if you’re still wondering how they’ll get to LA, Ventiko said they’ll go on an epic drive across the country
Image credits: Dexter The Peacock
Watch the video below:
Click to unmute
I am sorry to be a bit harsh here. I do understand the whole concept of emotional support animals. But for christ sake, she bought him for an art installation and all of a sudden he is her support animal? I would be rather upset if I had to sit next to a peacock on a plane. Don't get me wrong, I love all sorts of animals, but this goes too far.
Agreed. It's nothing more than a selfish publicity stunt with no thought about the welfare of the peacock.
for a bad artist no less
I agree with everything you said. Enough is enough.
I honestly think I'd be more concerned for the peacock and whether it's gonna feel comfortable stuck on that plane
Faking it to get your favorite pet around is getting very common. Read this article from a confessed faker: http://www.cracked.com/personal-experiences-2156-healthy-people-are-faking-disabilities-to-get-service-dog.html
Well, the way I see it she probably got her wish. This was never about an emotional support animal. It was about a so-called-artist's desperate ploy to go viral by causing a scene that would draw attention to her instagram. Do I think there are people who need an emotional support animal? Yes, and they should be accommodated, but people like this woman who abuse the system to promote herself are ruining things for everyone else.
He's her pet, nothing more. She's just trying to game the system. The last tweet in the article says it best. This woman needs to grow up and live in the real world.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
The real world has emotional support animals. More and more people are learning about mental illness and are finding new ways to cope. Animals can be a part of that, they can sense your anxiety and sadness. For some people who have anxiety they need to have an animal with them so they don't have a panic attack. I don't know if you've ever had a panic attack but it sucks.
Excuse me, but I live every day with severe depression and anxiety. And I have panic attacks. READ the last twitter response above and you'll see exactly what I'm saying. That woman gets it. I know there are people out there that genuinely benefit from support animals, but this woman is NOT one of them. She said it herself that she bought him for use in her "art" work and then he became her pet. Well, guess what? Just because you've "bonded" with your new pet, it does NOT make him your support animal! The process of getting a license is a joke and anyone with the money and an internet connection can get one (I know this because I lived in an apt. building where you couldn't have dogs, but you could have "support" dogs. Everyone was getting the certificates so they could keep a dog in their apts.). People get this piece of paper and it's, "Oh looky! Now my pet poochie is my support buddy!". Not how the real world works. She needs to grow up and be an adult.
Yet, this is complicate in real word because other people doesn't have to be confortable with your pet. One of my aunt has a real phobia as far as birds are concerned. She would have a panic attack with that peacok around. Plus this woman was warned that her pet wouldn't be allowed in the plane, she still came with him/her/it. To me she's just an artist using a real life problem to get attention and fame and that is really sad.
Quite sure that this Peacock will get a panic attack long before she does!!!!
I am sorry to be a bit harsh here. I do understand the whole concept of emotional support animals. But for christ sake, she bought him for an art installation and all of a sudden he is her support animal? I would be rather upset if I had to sit next to a peacock on a plane. Don't get me wrong, I love all sorts of animals, but this goes too far.
Agreed. It's nothing more than a selfish publicity stunt with no thought about the welfare of the peacock.
for a bad artist no less
I agree with everything you said. Enough is enough.
I honestly think I'd be more concerned for the peacock and whether it's gonna feel comfortable stuck on that plane
Faking it to get your favorite pet around is getting very common. Read this article from a confessed faker: http://www.cracked.com/personal-experiences-2156-healthy-people-are-faking-disabilities-to-get-service-dog.html
Well, the way I see it she probably got her wish. This was never about an emotional support animal. It was about a so-called-artist's desperate ploy to go viral by causing a scene that would draw attention to her instagram. Do I think there are people who need an emotional support animal? Yes, and they should be accommodated, but people like this woman who abuse the system to promote herself are ruining things for everyone else.
He's her pet, nothing more. She's just trying to game the system. The last tweet in the article says it best. This woman needs to grow up and live in the real world.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
The real world has emotional support animals. More and more people are learning about mental illness and are finding new ways to cope. Animals can be a part of that, they can sense your anxiety and sadness. For some people who have anxiety they need to have an animal with them so they don't have a panic attack. I don't know if you've ever had a panic attack but it sucks.
Excuse me, but I live every day with severe depression and anxiety. And I have panic attacks. READ the last twitter response above and you'll see exactly what I'm saying. That woman gets it. I know there are people out there that genuinely benefit from support animals, but this woman is NOT one of them. She said it herself that she bought him for use in her "art" work and then he became her pet. Well, guess what? Just because you've "bonded" with your new pet, it does NOT make him your support animal! The process of getting a license is a joke and anyone with the money and an internet connection can get one (I know this because I lived in an apt. building where you couldn't have dogs, but you could have "support" dogs. Everyone was getting the certificates so they could keep a dog in their apts.). People get this piece of paper and it's, "Oh looky! Now my pet poochie is my support buddy!". Not how the real world works. She needs to grow up and be an adult.
Yet, this is complicate in real word because other people doesn't have to be confortable with your pet. One of my aunt has a real phobia as far as birds are concerned. She would have a panic attack with that peacok around. Plus this woman was warned that her pet wouldn't be allowed in the plane, she still came with him/her/it. To me she's just an artist using a real life problem to get attention and fame and that is really sad.
Quite sure that this Peacock will get a panic attack long before she does!!!!