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Emotional support animals are companions that a medical professional has prescribed as helpful to someone with a disability. These animals are usually regular pets like dogs, cats and occasionally rabbits or guinea pigs. Many airlines recognize that flying causes great anxiety to many people, and so allow emotional support animals to fly aboard planes with their humans.

Like all nice, good and helpful things however, there are always people that will go too far and ruin it for everyone else. This list, compiled by Bored Panda, is a series of times when people brought unusual, unnecessary and just frankly ridiculous animals along for their 'emotional support,' and while some here have a genuine need, many are just abusing a concept that has a real purpose for many people.

Scroll down to see what we mean for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments.

#1

Duck On Flight

Duck On Flight

Daniel the Duck is a certified emotional support animal, who helps his owner Carla Fitzgerald battle the post traumatic stress disorder. “Everyone just took notice of him and fell in love,” Fitzgerald told ABC News. “I mean, he’s an adorable, funny and sweet little guy. He was very well behaved at the airport and during the flight.”

Mark Essig Report

#2

Pony On An Flight

Pony On An Flight

Flirty The Mini Service Horse (a.k.a. Flirty) is a miniature horse who is a service animal. She is a very small miniature horse, standing only 27 inches tall and weighing just over 130 lbs, who loves attention and helping her disabled owner/handler, Abrea Hensley. Abrea is allergic to dogs and has post-traumatic stress disorder, so she takes Flirty everywhere she goes. The little mare reminds Hensley to take her medication and provides support when she becomes overwhelmed

Flirty The Mini Service Horse , FlirtyTheSH Report

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Dee Hunter
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The idea of mini ponies isactually a not that bad - just take into account the life span of a horse (something between 20 and 30 years) vs. a service dog (about 10 years in service)

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#3

Emotional Support Peacock, Trying To Board A Flight From Newark To L.a

Emotional Support Peacock, Trying To Board A Flight From Newark To L.a

This woman brought along her emotional support peacock for her flight to L.A. from Newark Airport. 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

dexterthepeacock , thejetsettv Report

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Dee Hunter
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just one question: HOW. How is a beepin' bird supposed to give you emotional support, especially a peacock. I call BS - or better: attention hog

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#4

'Emotional Support' Pig Kicked Off Flight For Being Disruptive

'Emotional Support' Pig Kicked Off Flight For Being Disruptive

Woman has been kicked off her plane for bringing a 70-pound pig on board for 'emotional support'. She made it to the plane and was sitting with the pig on her lap, however, before long, the pig was reported as being 'out of control' and disruptive. So the passenger was asked to get off.

@ianbremmer Report

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Ana Ferreira
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

An animal that actually uses squealing like it's being murdered as a defense mechanism, and is pretty easily triggered is a terrible idea for a support animal to take to a strange and confined environment.

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#5

Pig On Flight

Pig On Flight

goldboxatl Report

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Hard 2 Guess
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Here it is folks. If you ever thought you'll do something when pigs fly then you need to get started on that.

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#6

My Friend Had An 'Emotional Support Turkey' On Her Flight To Seattle

My Friend Had An 'Emotional Support Turkey' On Her Flight To Seattle

Easter the turkey was Jodie Smalley's support animal. Smalley found it 'as a shivering chick standing in the road on Easter Day', hence the name. “Easter came to me as a tiny poult at an emotionally difficult time in my life being in a mentally abusive and failing marriage,” Smalley explained

averym88 Report

#7

Monkey Business! Meet Gizmo Who Stirred All That Trouble On A Las Vegas Bound Frontier Airlines Flight

Monkey Business! Meet Gizmo Who Stirred All That Trouble On A Las Vegas Bound Frontier Airlines Flight

Marmoset Gizmo got through TSA screening and boarded a Frontier Airlines flight from Columbus, Ohio to Las Vegas. Gizmo's owner, Jason Ellis, didn't warn other passengers or crew about his emotional support pet, so their surprise when Gizmo started poking its head out of Ellis's shirt was understandable. Gizmo was never loose on flight and stuck to owner's shirt the entire time.

nateoneal Report

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#8

When My Mom Has A Kangaroo On Her Flight As An "Emotional Support Animal"

When My Mom Has A Kangaroo On Her Flight As An "Emotional Support Animal"

DevinnZeller Report

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Rosesinmyhair
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Kangaroos are not pets. Makes me boiling mad that you can buy Roos in Pet shops in the US.

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#9

Monkey Helper

Monkey Helper

Richard, a bonnet macaque monkey, belongs to Debby Rose, who suffers from agoraphobia, the fear of places and situations that causes panic, helplessness, or embarrassment. She brings her monkey everywhere and will even drive with him in the front seat.

Rebecca Skloot Report

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Tracey Tait
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's illegal. Driving with any animals on your lap impairs driving and is a moving violation

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#10

Woman Removed From Flight To Cleveland With Emotional Support Squirrel: 'You Will Not Take My Baby'

Woman Removed From Flight To Cleveland With Emotional Support Squirrel: 'You Will Not Take My Baby'

A passenger was removed from a Frontier Airlines flight when she attempted to fly with her “emotional support” squirrel and then refused to get off the plane when she was told no, according to the airline. A Frontier spokesman said in a statement that the passenger had alerted the airline that she would be bringing an emotional-support animal on the flight but did not mention it would be a rodent. “Rodents, including squirrels, are not allowed on Frontier flights,” the statement read. “

fox8news Report

#11

There Is Such A Thing As A Service Pony And I Want One

There Is Such A Thing As A Service Pony And I Want One

Alancumming Report

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Random Panda
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That poor woman. I don't think people with emotional support animals should be allowed to make other passengers so uncomfortable.

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#12

Emotional Support Kangaroo

Emotional Support Kangaroo

"A customer tried to bring a baby kangaroo on the plane as a service animal," a retired airline customer service agent with 18 years of experience told Business Insider.

ShawnReynolds_ , twitter.com Report

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Kaisu
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, kangaroos are wild animals, not pets and definitely not service animals, especially young joeys like this!

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lmcn avatar
L McN
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Although any animal can be trained, Kangaroos are still WILD, not domesticated. This is an emergency waiting to happen.

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Alejandro Vega
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What kind of people would feel supported by tying up a wild animal an forcing it to go on an unknown scary environment????

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JessG
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Makes me wonder how they got the paperwork for this

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#13

Don't Act Like You've Never Seen A Therapy Turkey Going Through Airport Security

Don't Act Like You've Never Seen A Therapy Turkey Going Through Airport Security

This emotional support turkey was spotted at San Francisco Airport.
The turkey was seen going through security sometime last week by KTVU journalist Frank Somerville, who shared the story to his Facebook page.
According to the post, the turkey is an emotional support animal for a woman who lost her husband. The woman takes the turkey everywhere with her, and it even sleeps with her at night.

Frank Somerville KTVU , Maggie Serota Report

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Parmeisan
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ah, that makes me remember my favourite show. "As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." I miss ya, WKRP. I wish I could re-watch on Netflix.

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#14

We've Got Cock!! Emotional Support Rooster For. The. Win

We've Got Cock!! Emotional Support Rooster For. The. Win

passengershaming Report

#15

Piggy Pilot. Hoggin' The Cockpit

Piggy Pilot. Hoggin' The Cockpit

Hamlet the Beach Hog is the emotional support animal of Megan Peabody who loves flying, but suffers from anxiety. According to Peabody, having her hog on board makes her feel "more comfortable and provides a lovely distraction."

hamlet_the_beach_hog Report

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#16

Just Your Everyday Emotional Support Kangaroo...

Just Your Everyday Emotional Support Kangaroo...

passengershaming Report

#17

Emotional Support Hamster's Owner Claimed The Staff Working For Spirit Airlines Told Her That Pebbles Would Have To Be Flushed Down A Toilet

Emotional Support Hamster's Owner Claimed The Staff Working For Spirit Airlines Told Her That Pebbles Would Have To Be Flushed Down A Toilet

Belen Aldecosea said she contacted Spirit airlines twice to confirm that her emotional support hamster can fly with her. But the animal was refused entry upon arrival, and an employee suggested she flush her pet down the toilet 


@DavidOvalle305 Report

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Diana Eriksson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is absolutely sick, why didn't she try giving the hamster to someone at the airport or something, anything would be better than literally being DROWNED IN THE SEWERS?

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