Happy New Year… Happy 2019!
So we took a trip for Christmas and to ring in 2019… Yay!!
Unfortunately our flight got delayed (for three hours) and even though the airline desk agent said sometimes they do reverse the delays, that did not happen in this case.
The nice thing about the delay was that it gave me an opportunity to do a lot of reading and a little bit of people-watching too 🙂
Airports are one of the best places to people-watch.
I could not believe the overwhelming number of “emotional support animals” I observed in the terminal during the extended time I got to stay there. I mean, seriously…
Now, that’s not to say that people didn’t need them or anything, I’m no psychologist or psychiatrist so I can’t say one way or another, but I will say this… I have my doubts that ALL those people toting around ALL those animals really do need them.
For crying out loud, I thought these animals were supposed to be calm and “supportive” to their people but I observed a good number them being very hyperactive and then getting into snarling fights with other dogs as they either passed each other by or even came anywhere close to each other.
Dog fights… In the airport!!
Shouldn’t these “working dogs” be more concerned with keeping their people company and calm, why are they getting riled up at other dogs in the terminal.
And another thing…
I was under the impression that these service dogs or emotional support animals were supposed to wear vests or collars that designated them as such. Not just that, but the vests also warned folks not to pet them so that they don’t get distracted from the work they’re supposed to be doing.
I counted exactly ONE dog in the airport that had that type of vest. All the others were either “naked” or wearing froofy outfits á la Paris Hilton-style doggy outfits.
Am I the only one that thinks this is excessive?
- From 2016 to 2017, the number of emotional support animals on U.S. commercial flights increased by 57% (good to know it’s not just all in my head)
- A simple Google search will turn up a plethora of sites that you can get a “support animal certificate” from…
- These certificates are now required by most airlines in order for you to take your animal on the plane
- I actually read that someone once tried to fly with an emotional support animal for their emotional support animal…
Well, I have no solution to this issue, I just wanted to rant a little about this recent observation I made. I anticipate that what I have said might offend some people, but hey…
How about you…? Have you flown recently and observed the same thing? If so, what do you think about all this?
If you have a resolution this year to do more writing then be sure to check out my 31-Day Writing Challenge to jump start your writing habit.
I’m currently on Day 22 and will be posting that shortly.
Just Half An Hour 
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