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:
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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.
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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.
My daughter has severe anxiety and depression. Her PTSD/anxiety dog is highly trained to help her throughout the day. He alerts her before she has a panic attack, helps calm her by refocusing her attention, finds exits if she needs to get out of a location quickly, provides compression therapy when needed, and even wakes her up at night if she starts to have a nightmare. If your anxiety is bad enough to warrant the need of an emotional support animal, you can get a fully trained medical service dog to help. It will do so much more for you than just be a cute thing to pet. This woman really upsets me. This was nothing more than a publicity stunt. Her actions make it that much harder for people with legitimate needs to be taken seriously.
Wow. Thank you for educating me about all the things your daughter's support dog does--that's amazing that he alerts her before the attack. What an incredibly animal. I'm glad your daughter has him--amazing
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Yeah, it would be great if people could stop sneaking in their pets to places they aren't allowed to be at and use a genuine medical problem as a pretext to do it. Makes people who really suffer from an anxiety disorder look like idiots. Plus you are disrespecting the hundreds of hours of hard work and continuous examination of genuinely trained support dogs. Mine is a highly trained USAR dog. I also happen to suffer from PTSD and have had 16 panic attacks in less than 2 weeks. My dog knows me better than any human and has trained himself to recognise an impending attack and stop it. Have I ever pretended he was an emotional support dog? NO. He isn't trained for it, he hasn't had his exams, I have no business pretending otherwise.
Definitely absurd. I really dont mind dogs as support animals, I think dogs are the most reliably trained and acceptable to go on flights for disabilities or medical reasons, but a peacock is ridiculous. This is not a professional trained animal, domesticated for thousands of years as pets across the globe, this is an artists pet. And whose idea was it to dub all these creatures as emotionally supportive just to get them on a plane? Too far.
Wow. Annoying drama queen as$@hole. Stop tolerating AS$%#LES, America!!
Just because you have a connection with an animal or bird does not make it an "emotional support" animal. let's get real...
All I know is that they'd BETTER let me on with my emotional support rhino!!
I have an emotional support sting ray, pardon his barb!
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Yeah, I used to have a free-roaming peacock on my farm. When he performed his "call", people could hear it for MILES! Also, wouldn't it be crapping all over???
Just because you have an emotional bond with an animal or bird does not make it an "emotional support" animal...
Planes are for people. Period. If you have that much anxiety (and I HAVE ANXIETY) you need to find ways to deal with it that do not intrude on the comfort and safety of others who are in your presence by chance. This case appears to be more a case of her feeling guilty for leaving precious peacock all alone (or not wanting to get someone else to watch it) than for any health benefit. Where have our manners gone? Not everyone likes animals and they certainly should not be forced to be near one due to random luck. My dog is touchy... I don't take him ANYWHERE or expose others to his behavior because their concerns matter just as much as mine!
It´s not a support animal if you buy it for art...And it´s hardly the first artist with a weird pet, being an artist myself I would totally love to have a weird pet like an Aardvark or something(but exotic animals should not be pets however), so I mean...It´s not for support, it´s for oneselves quirky taste, animals in general tends to make you feel calmer, but it´s when they can understand/sniff out when something more dangerous is happening, and people with way worse mental ilnesses that need them to calm them in an emergency to not hurt themselves.
fraud! ... and I quote “Their story started when *Ventiko purchased Dexter for an art installation*” Dexter is a support alright - a support to pretentiousness & vanity. > I’m just a regular girl, living in NY, with my PeaCock, in art deco drag < good christ woman, get over yourself. I’m with Alec ... “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” - for people who need legitimate support dogs or cats PS anyone been around those things? never mind the amount of space they take up, they are LOUD, and known to be flashy, fanning their tails/wings alot, get obnoxious/touchy and snappy/rude (wait does that ‘people take after their pets’ come into effect here?)
I didn't know you could legally buy an exotic animal, like a peacock, in the United States. So, that's news to me. What I do know, though, is that the "New Yorker" had an article, some years back, about just how easy it is to get a therapist to sign off on an emotional support animal. Something smells fishy about this bird story, to me, because the woman was told she couldn't bring Dexter but she tried to force the issue, anyway. And, the bird has his own social media accounts? This seems more like a publicity stunt than anything else.
I know that on some farms peacocks are used as defense animals because they're loud and sometimes scary if you're not expecting them.
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Clearly NOT an emotional support animal, but a pet. The airline told her BEFORE SHE REACHED THE AIRPORT that the animal would not be allowed to fly. Look at the beak and claws on that bird! It could do some serious damage. She needs to grow the f**** up!
An animal is an animal, no matter what beautiful it is!! And should be taking care of it in the natural and proper way! And actually any kind of treatment for the animal different than the natural one, it's a kind of cruelty no mater what cute you think it is! Like put clothes to the dogs, or make them eat "Healthy" food! If you own an animal (any kind) you have realized that there is thing they can do, and what they can't! For this peacock, should be putted on a proper cage, and transport it in a proper transport, not in a human seat with other people! The pet owners usually do not understand where his rights ends and and when other people's starts!!
I WOULD NOT WANT TOBE THE ONE GETTING SHITON JUST SAYING ........................
The idea that some people deserve to be cosseted, spoiled, and indulged by airlines in their juvenile, childlike desires to have their 'support animals' with them is completely insane from the get-go. Support animals for the blind, yes. Support animals for overgrown, emotionally crippled, stunted children who should not be out in public without a KEEPER? Are you effing kidding me? LUDICROUS!
Sorry, but she's just trying to get attention on the backs of those who are truly disabled. She just made it even more difficult for people with REAL service animals.
All I know is they'd BETTER let me on with my emotional support rhino!!!
And I can only wish the emotional support animals were eligible in Europe. But they aren't, so I need to spend an excessive amount of money and time to get my dog certified as an assistance dog so that she is allowed to fly with me. While it makes sense for people with certain type of diagnosis that requires their dog to be very specifically trained, it's just vastly unnecessary for me and frankly causes me quite a lot of trouble. That said, I still think there should be a basic mental and obedience test carried out for animals that are supposed to work as support animals, simply to avoid situations when the animal that's supposed to be the support is clearly not up to the task.
I live in Finland (Europe) and here animals are used part of a therapy.
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to be fair, I think that peacock takes up at least 2 seats :) Also I think some people might be a little freaked out about a GIANT BIRD next to them Even if it's an awesome bird :) I mean a lot of kids are not as big as that peacock.
Birds can't hold their bowells, which means it will be crapping white splatter all over the place the whole trip. Not sanitary and who will clean up the splatter? What person will be unlucky enough to sit where the platter was earlier? It's not fair to other people, it's s dirty creature that can't control when and where it goes to the bathroom.
I get it, this is ridiculous and stretching the bounds of "emotional support animal". But part of me also thinks it's awesome. I mean he just perches on her shoulder like a parrot. We all wish we had a pet Peacock.
Some of these comfort animals are getting out of hand. Sorry but a peacock isn't a emotionally supportive animal. Seems more like a ploy for viewers and shares etc. Its a prop, clearly.
If the airlines told her that she wouldn't be able to fly with the peacock, why didn't she just do what the rest of us would have (and what she ended up doing anyway)-just drive? Flying is such an horrible experience for everyone now, people need to be a bit more considerate of others. If you must travel with an animal, and driving is an option, go ahead a drive. What if the person who is stuck next to you is allergic to your pet? Is that person's needs any less valid or important than yours? Flying is starting to look like those buses you see documented by people traveling in very rural areas of Central or South America with chickens and pigs along for the ride-except that the people are much nicer to each other on the bus!
Okay, Pandas, I'm serving notice, if next time I fly they don't let my Emotional Support Hyenas onto the plane (economy), there'll be lawsuits flying before the plane does! I need all five of them, as much as she needs her peacock!
If the animal behaves then I dont care at all. Sounds like a 'you' problem to me. Especially the one that 'would have emotional-anxiety'. I dont personally have animals. Also, all you people just say "you dont need your blankie" instead of actual reasons on why they shouldn't be allowed to if the animal behaves properly. With all the stuff I head about children not being allowed to have peanutbutter in gradeschool because one kid has allergies, why would any sort of fur be allowed on a plane?
I’m totally bringing my Plymouth Rock rooster to the airport now LOL oh wait, never mind because I’m not an attention whore
mini ponies are fine but peacocks aren't even that nice so i would say no
Service Animal that happens to be a Peacock..Just doing his job. Nothing wrong with that.. Their is no need for Negative Comments. To much in this world already.
The only thing that gets me about this is that she brought it for an art installation and now she is saying it fulfills a support role? But also it does state that she had been informed that the bird would not be allowed to fly before she turned up so really this just seems like she is trying to drum up free publicity for her art. Or am I being hyper sceptic?
There has to be a limit. Suppose a blind person shows up with a seeing-eye elephant?
"But knowing that Dexter was living all alone there, she had to take him with her"... I'm confused, is the artist the Peacock's emotional support animal? Lol
As long as its had all its required vaccines, I'd totally be fine with sitting on a plane next to a peacock... I can't catch the Flu from a peacock...
i hate this.....she makes people who really need an ESA look bad....my dog is one and has helped me alot.....i wish i could go out of the house with out having a panik attack talking to people. i take evey step i can to be better. she is abuseing the system
ha ha ha I wanna see a rhino for emotional support on the plane...huh they used to use pills for people with emotional issues not to let them carry all the zoo along
It is true that animals provide emotional upliftment for us humans. That's why God created them to be our companions. I just think that this woman is exploiting the peacock to gain popularity.
I think you might mean service animals (there is a big difference between service and support) but I may be wrong.
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Dogs are better suited to being emotional support animals and service animals because they can be trained. Peacocks and other animals cannot be trained. An untrained animal can cause many, many problems, especially on a plane.
Load More Replies... 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.
Load More Replies... 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.
My daughter has severe anxiety and depression. Her PTSD/anxiety dog is highly trained to help her throughout the day. He alerts her before she has a panic attack, helps calm her by refocusing her attention, finds exits if she needs to get out of a location quickly, provides compression therapy when needed, and even wakes her up at night if she starts to have a nightmare. If your anxiety is bad enough to warrant the need of an emotional support animal, you can get a fully trained medical service dog to help. It will do so much more for you than just be a cute thing to pet. This woman really upsets me. This was nothing more than a publicity stunt. Her actions make it that much harder for people with legitimate needs to be taken seriously.
Wow. Thank you for educating me about all the things your daughter's support dog does--that's amazing that he alerts her before the attack. What an incredibly animal. I'm glad your daughter has him--amazing
Load More Replies... Yeah, it would be great if people could stop sneaking in their pets to places they aren't allowed to be at and use a genuine medical problem as a pretext to do it. Makes people who really suffer from an anxiety disorder look like idiots. Plus you are disrespecting the hundreds of hours of hard work and continuous examination of genuinely trained support dogs. Mine is a highly trained USAR dog. I also happen to suffer from PTSD and have had 16 panic attacks in less than 2 weeks. My dog knows me better than any human and has trained himself to recognise an impending attack and stop it. Have I ever pretended he was an emotional support dog? NO. He isn't trained for it, he hasn't had his exams, I have no business pretending otherwise.
Definitely absurd. I really dont mind dogs as support animals, I think dogs are the most reliably trained and acceptable to go on flights for disabilities or medical reasons, but a peacock is ridiculous. This is not a professional trained animal, domesticated for thousands of years as pets across the globe, this is an artists pet. And whose idea was it to dub all these creatures as emotionally supportive just to get them on a plane? Too far.
Wow. Annoying drama queen as$@hole. Stop tolerating AS$%#LES, America!!
Just because you have a connection with an animal or bird does not make it an "emotional support" animal. let's get real...
All I know is that they'd BETTER let me on with my emotional support rhino!!
I have an emotional support sting ray, pardon his barb!
Load More Replies... Yeah, I used to have a free-roaming peacock on my farm. When he performed his "call", people could hear it for MILES! Also, wouldn't it be crapping all over???
Just because you have an emotional bond with an animal or bird does not make it an "emotional support" animal...
Planes are for people. Period. If you have that much anxiety (and I HAVE ANXIETY) you need to find ways to deal with it that do not intrude on the comfort and safety of others who are in your presence by chance. This case appears to be more a case of her feeling guilty for leaving precious peacock all alone (or not wanting to get someone else to watch it) than for any health benefit. Where have our manners gone? Not everyone likes animals and they certainly should not be forced to be near one due to random luck. My dog is touchy... I don't take him ANYWHERE or expose others to his behavior because their concerns matter just as much as mine!
It´s not a support animal if you buy it for art...And it´s hardly the first artist with a weird pet, being an artist myself I would totally love to have a weird pet like an Aardvark or something(but exotic animals should not be pets however), so I mean...It´s not for support, it´s for oneselves quirky taste, animals in general tends to make you feel calmer, but it´s when they can understand/sniff out when something more dangerous is happening, and people with way worse mental ilnesses that need them to calm them in an emergency to not hurt themselves.
fraud! ... and I quote “Their story started when *Ventiko purchased Dexter for an art installation*” Dexter is a support alright - a support to pretentiousness & vanity. > I’m just a regular girl, living in NY, with my PeaCock, in art deco drag < good christ woman, get over yourself. I’m with Alec ... “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” - for people who need legitimate support dogs or cats PS anyone been around those things? never mind the amount of space they take up, they are LOUD, and known to be flashy, fanning their tails/wings alot, get obnoxious/touchy and snappy/rude (wait does that ‘people take after their pets’ come into effect here?)
I didn't know you could legally buy an exotic animal, like a peacock, in the United States. So, that's news to me. What I do know, though, is that the "New Yorker" had an article, some years back, about just how easy it is to get a therapist to sign off on an emotional support animal. Something smells fishy about this bird story, to me, because the woman was told she couldn't bring Dexter but she tried to force the issue, anyway. And, the bird has his own social media accounts? This seems more like a publicity stunt than anything else.
I know that on some farms peacocks are used as defense animals because they're loud and sometimes scary if you're not expecting them.
Load More Replies... Clearly NOT an emotional support animal, but a pet. The airline told her BEFORE SHE REACHED THE AIRPORT that the animal would not be allowed to fly. Look at the beak and claws on that bird! It could do some serious damage. She needs to grow the f**** up!
An animal is an animal, no matter what beautiful it is!! And should be taking care of it in the natural and proper way! And actually any kind of treatment for the animal different than the natural one, it's a kind of cruelty no mater what cute you think it is! Like put clothes to the dogs, or make them eat "Healthy" food! If you own an animal (any kind) you have realized that there is thing they can do, and what they can't! For this peacock, should be putted on a proper cage, and transport it in a proper transport, not in a human seat with other people! The pet owners usually do not understand where his rights ends and and when other people's starts!!
I WOULD NOT WANT TOBE THE ONE GETTING SHITON JUST SAYING ........................
The idea that some people deserve to be cosseted, spoiled, and indulged by airlines in their juvenile, childlike desires to have their 'support animals' with them is completely insane from the get-go. Support animals for the blind, yes. Support animals for overgrown, emotionally crippled, stunted children who should not be out in public without a KEEPER? Are you effing kidding me? LUDICROUS!
Sorry, but she's just trying to get attention on the backs of those who are truly disabled. She just made it even more difficult for people with REAL service animals.
All I know is they'd BETTER let me on with my emotional support rhino!!!
And I can only wish the emotional support animals were eligible in Europe. But they aren't, so I need to spend an excessive amount of money and time to get my dog certified as an assistance dog so that she is allowed to fly with me. While it makes sense for people with certain type of diagnosis that requires their dog to be very specifically trained, it's just vastly unnecessary for me and frankly causes me quite a lot of trouble. That said, I still think there should be a basic mental and obedience test carried out for animals that are supposed to work as support animals, simply to avoid situations when the animal that's supposed to be the support is clearly not up to the task.
I live in Finland (Europe) and here animals are used part of a therapy.
Load More Replies... to be fair, I think that peacock takes up at least 2 seats :) Also I think some people might be a little freaked out about a GIANT BIRD next to them Even if it's an awesome bird :) I mean a lot of kids are not as big as that peacock.
Birds can't hold their bowells, which means it will be crapping white splatter all over the place the whole trip. Not sanitary and who will clean up the splatter? What person will be unlucky enough to sit where the platter was earlier? It's not fair to other people, it's s dirty creature that can't control when and where it goes to the bathroom.
I get it, this is ridiculous and stretching the bounds of "emotional support animal". But part of me also thinks it's awesome. I mean he just perches on her shoulder like a parrot. We all wish we had a pet Peacock.
Some of these comfort animals are getting out of hand. Sorry but a peacock isn't a emotionally supportive animal. Seems more like a ploy for viewers and shares etc. Its a prop, clearly.
If the airlines told her that she wouldn't be able to fly with the peacock, why didn't she just do what the rest of us would have (and what she ended up doing anyway)-just drive? Flying is such an horrible experience for everyone now, people need to be a bit more considerate of others. If you must travel with an animal, and driving is an option, go ahead a drive. What if the person who is stuck next to you is allergic to your pet? Is that person's needs any less valid or important than yours? Flying is starting to look like those buses you see documented by people traveling in very rural areas of Central or South America with chickens and pigs along for the ride-except that the people are much nicer to each other on the bus!
Okay, Pandas, I'm serving notice, if next time I fly they don't let my Emotional Support Hyenas onto the plane (economy), there'll be lawsuits flying before the plane does! I need all five of them, as much as she needs her peacock!
If the animal behaves then I dont care at all. Sounds like a 'you' problem to me. Especially the one that 'would have emotional-anxiety'. I dont personally have animals. Also, all you people just say "you dont need your blankie" instead of actual reasons on why they shouldn't be allowed to if the animal behaves properly. With all the stuff I head about children not being allowed to have peanutbutter in gradeschool because one kid has allergies, why would any sort of fur be allowed on a plane?
I’m totally bringing my Plymouth Rock rooster to the airport now LOL oh wait, never mind because I’m not an attention whore
mini ponies are fine but peacocks aren't even that nice so i would say no
Service Animal that happens to be a Peacock..Just doing his job. Nothing wrong with that.. Their is no need for Negative Comments. To much in this world already.
The only thing that gets me about this is that she brought it for an art installation and now she is saying it fulfills a support role? But also it does state that she had been informed that the bird would not be allowed to fly before she turned up so really this just seems like she is trying to drum up free publicity for her art. Or am I being hyper sceptic?
There has to be a limit. Suppose a blind person shows up with a seeing-eye elephant?
"But knowing that Dexter was living all alone there, she had to take him with her"... I'm confused, is the artist the Peacock's emotional support animal? Lol
As long as its had all its required vaccines, I'd totally be fine with sitting on a plane next to a peacock... I can't catch the Flu from a peacock...
i hate this.....she makes people who really need an ESA look bad....my dog is one and has helped me alot.....i wish i could go out of the house with out having a panik attack talking to people. i take evey step i can to be better. she is abuseing the system
ha ha ha I wanna see a rhino for emotional support on the plane...huh they used to use pills for people with emotional issues not to let them carry all the zoo along
It is true that animals provide emotional upliftment for us humans. That's why God created them to be our companions. I just think that this woman is exploiting the peacock to gain popularity.
I think you might mean service animals (there is a big difference between service and support) but I may be wrong.
Load More Replies... Dogs are better suited to being emotional support animals and service animals because they can be trained. Peacocks and other animals cannot be trained. An untrained animal can cause many, many problems, especially on a plane.
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