It seems the world of emotional support pets is expanding to some of the strangest animals. While squirrels are cute and may seem cuddly, it can be hard to see how they could be registered as an emotional support pet. But one woman tried actually owns a squirrel that does just that.
In fact, the woman was removed from a flight after an airline refused to let her fly with her ’emotional support squirrel.’ Frontier Airlines called police to escort the woman off the plane after she brought the rodent onto her flight from Orlando to Cleveland.
The passenger told the airline in her reservation she would be boarding with an animal, but she never disclosed what kind of animal. As a result, she was taken off the plane because the firm did not know it was a squirrel.
The woman said she was told of the airline’s policy, but refused to leave when asked by staff, so Orlando Police were called to remove her while every passenger was also forced to disembark.
Because of this particular incident, Frontier will be reworking their animal policy and starting from next month, the company will only allow emotional support cats and dogs on its flights.
‘The passenger noted in their reservation that they were bringing an emotional support animal but it was not indicated that it was a squirrel,” a spokesman for Frontier told ABC News. “Rodents, including squirrels, are not allowed on Frontier flights. When she refused to deplane Orlando Police were called and requested that everyone be deplaned so they could deal with the passenger.
“Police eventually escorted the passenger off the aircraft and took her to the main terminal,” the spokesman added.
According to its website, Frontier’s policy on support animals states: ‘We do not accept unusual or exotic animals including but not limited to rodents, reptiles, insects, hedgehogs, rabbits, sugar gliders, non-household birds or improperly cleaned and/or animals with foul odor.’
In the past, Delta had passengers that had tried to get ‘comfort turkeys, gliding possums snakes and other animals on to flights. In January, a woman tried to bring a peacock on board a flight.
By: Maytinee Kramer
