The pig was ordered off a U.S. Airways plane at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut on Wednesday after crewmembers determined the animal had become disruptive, said Laura Masvidal, a spokeswoman for U.S. Airways parent American Airlines said Friday.
The pig had been brought aboard the flight by a passenger as an emotional support animal, Masvidal said. She said both the pig and its owner left the aircraft before it took off. She had no other details and did not immediately know where the flight was headed.
Jonathan Skolnik, a University of Massachusetts professor who was on the flight, told ABC News that he initially thought the female passenger was carrying a duffel bag.
"But it turns out it wasn't a duffel bag. We could smell it and it was a pig on a leash," he said.
The woman sat in an empty seat next to him and tethered the pig — which he estimated weighed 50-70 pounds — to the arm rest, but the animal began walking back and forth, Skolnik said.
Emotional support animals are allowed on commercial flights under U.S. Department of Transportation rules as long as they are not disruptive, Masdival said.
I've had pigs as pets and they only smell when they're covered with something stinky, just like a dog. It sounds to me like the "University of Massachusetts professor" was adding a bit of drama...
Every living thing has a smell. Even a well groomed dog smells like a dog. I wouldn't be thrilled at smelling pig for a few hours in close quarters.
Every living thing has a smell. Not all of those smells are bad. Jupiter doesn't even smell bad, if she goes out in the rain. No wet dog smell. No bad smell, ever. And she gets a bath, maybe 3 times a year. Whether she needs one, or not. (We only do it, to get those dew claws trimmed.)
And, our cats never need a bath. And they smell great!
Every living thing has a smell. Even a well groomed dog smells like a dog. I wouldn't be thrilled at smelling pig for a few hours in close quarters.
Every living thing has a smell. Not all of those smells are bad. Jupiter doesn't even smell bad, if she goes out in the rain. No wet dog smell. No bad smell, ever. And she gets a bath, maybe 3 times a year. Whether she needs one, or not. (We only do it, to get those dew claws trimmed.)
And, our cats never need a bath. And they smell great!
Cousin had a pet pig. Kept it well groomed. It still had a smell.
Look. The only pig I want to smell is one that is cooking.
Pigs are food, not friends.
__________________
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Every living thing has a smell. Even a well groomed dog smells like a dog. I wouldn't be thrilled at smelling pig for a few hours in close quarters.
Every living thing has a smell. Not all of those smells are bad. Jupiter doesn't even smell bad, if she goes out in the rain. No wet dog smell. No bad smell, ever. And she gets a bath, maybe 3 times a year. Whether she needs one, or not. (We only do it, to get those dew claws trimmed.)
And, our cats never need a bath. And they smell great!
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Wayne would be my "emotional support animal"! Does that mean, he can fly for free???????????
Free nothing. I pay $180 round trip on Sounthwest airlines for fur baby to fly. She has to remain in her travel bag tucked underneath the seat.
You need a doctor's letter (or a psychiatrist). Present it at the time of check in and there is no charge. They still have to remain in their bags under the seat though. I've had Z-dog out of his carrier, but only if all passengers around me are okay with it. Also, I warn people sitting next to me that there is a dog under the seat and am open to switching seats if someone has an allergy or a fear.
Dang it! I was sure we would be having bacon by now..
Personally, I think people are getting carried away with the term "service animal". I am seeing way to much abuse of the term by people who just want their pet with them. A true service animal has a certification number, an identification tag and a special emblem. I wonder if the pig had all that.
__________________
I drink coffee so I don't kill you.
I quilt so I don't kill you.
Do you see a theme?
Faith isn't something that keeps bad things from happening. Faith is what helps us get through bad things when they do happen.
there is a HUGE difference between a service animal (for both physical and psychiatric issues) and an emotional support animal. HUGE difference. However, it is a myth that service animals need to be identified. They don't. It's a privacy thing.
there is a HUGE difference between a service animal (for both physical and psychiatric issues) and an emotional support animal. HUGE difference. However, it is a myth that service animals need to be identified. They don't. It's a privacy thing.
Not in our state. Registered service animals have to wear a service registered vest here.
Anyone can buy a similar replica of the badge, but it has to be registered to be a legal service animal.
Simple observation can tell you the difference between a real service animal and one that is just wearing a fake. The real service animal will be very focused on the individual it is serving.
__________________
I drink coffee so I don't kill you.
I quilt so I don't kill you.
Do you see a theme?
Faith isn't something that keeps bad things from happening. Faith is what helps us get through bad things when they do happen.
there is a HUGE difference between a service animal (for both physical and psychiatric issues) and an emotional support animal. HUGE difference. However, it is a myth that service animals need to be identified. They don't. It's a privacy thing.
Not in our state. Registered service animals have to wear a service registered vest here.
Anyone can buy a similar replica of the badge, but it has to be registered to be a legal service animal.
Simple observation can tell you the difference between a real service animal and one that is just wearing a fake. The real service animal will be very focused on the individual it is serving.
Good point - different state to state. In California it was HIPPA protection to not mark service animals. You also couldn't ask questions or ask to see documentation/proof. It was a pain in the butt working in restaurants because people could claim service animal and we couldn't do anything about it.
there is a HUGE difference between a service animal (for both physical and psychiatric issues) and an emotional support animal. HUGE difference. However, it is a myth that service animals need to be identified. They don't. It's a privacy thing.
Not in our state. Registered service animals have to wear a service registered vest here.
Anyone can buy a similar replica of the badge, but it has to be registered to be a legal service animal.
Simple observation can tell you the difference between a real service animal and one that is just wearing a fake. The real service animal will be very focused on the individual it is serving.
Good point - different state to state. In California it was HIPPA protection to not mark service animals. You also couldn't ask questions or ask to see documentation/proof. It was a pain in the butt working in restaurants because people could claim service animal and we couldn't do anything about it.
Exactly my point. It is being abused to the detriment of those who are seriously ill and in need of a true service animal. It's become another special snowflake syndrome to have a "service animal vest" on their beloved pet.
__________________
I drink coffee so I don't kill you.
I quilt so I don't kill you.
Do you see a theme?
Faith isn't something that keeps bad things from happening. Faith is what helps us get through bad things when they do happen.
