DOT Says Miniature Horses Can Fly As Service Animals

a horse running in a field
image: pixabay

Big news here when it comes to service animals on planes!

The US Department of Transportation recently announced that miniature horses are allowed to still fly as service animals on planes!

In recent years, I’ve heard of lots of interesting animals being brought on planes as service animals (ducks, marmoset), but I can’t say that I’ve ever heard of horses flying before.

A few weeks back, an American Airlines flight attendant was bit by a dog and needed five stitches.

Passengers take advantage of the rules for service animals on planes and so many organizations would like to see the government take another look at the rules regarding them.

Fox News shares a quote from the DOT stating, “After reviewing the comments on this issue, we believe that it would be in the public interest and within our discretionary authority to prioritize ensuring that the most commonly recognized service animals (i.e., dogs, cats, and miniature horses) are accepted for transport”.

Now I’m certainly no expert on service animals but are miniature horses really a commonly used service animal? (I have to admit that miniature horses do look really cool and if I was looking for a pet, I’d love to get one!)

If an airline refuses to allow a miniature horse service animal to fly, the DOT can take action against them. The article doesn’t state what this action could be.

Miniature horses, while smaller than your typical horse still aren’t what I’d consider a small animal. They can “stand between 2 and 3 feet tall and weight between 150 and 250 pounds,” according to Fox.

Find out more from Fox News here.

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