Emotional Support Animal versus Allergies

[Nocontactgrief]

I think I will be in the minority here, but I want to know AIBU - I read a story about a little horse being allowed on a plane to support an individual:

www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/03/emotional-support-horse-flight-american-airlines
(I don't know how to link!)

I have allergies to animals.
Asthma, hives & all the usual streaming eyes, coughing, sneezing etc.
I take antihistamines but they are not hugely effective against certain animals - obviously everyone is different & has different reactions.

AIBU in thinking a balance should be struck between animals increasingly in spaces where previously they wouldn't be permitted in the past.
Restaurants, cafes & hotels are increasingly dog friendly, with no regard for those for whom close proximity with animals is an issue.
Lots of companies now have office dogs.

Clearly there have always been guide dogs & people have to tolerate some animals in passing, but being in enclosed spaces for extended periods with animals...shouldn't people have a choice?

Whose needs should take priority where you get on a plane & there is a bloody tiny horse onboard?

Do emotional support needs trump physical allergies?

You can take antihistamines, a blind person doesn't have the luxury of popping a tablet for instantaneous relief.

YABU

The horse owner was blind? I didn't see that mentioned. It says on the instagram that the horse helps with anxiety. And I'm convinced that 99% of those emotional support animals are just an excuse to fly with your pet.

My post specifically referred to emotional support animals.
Guide & medical support animals are different; I am asking whether emotional support animals trump allergies WHERE ANTIHISTAMINES ARE INEFFECTIVE!

Yanbu. My mum has bad horse allergies and would have a severe reaction on this flight. Especially with the recycled air. But on the complete opposite side I have an office dog. He is half poodle so hypoallergenic. But I guess some people would still struggle.

*You can take antihistamines, a blind person doesn't have the luxury of popping a tablet for instantaneous relief.

YABU*

what in the hell...? What part of EMOTIONAL SUPPORT do you not get? Nobody disputes guide dogs. We're talking about comfort pets which aren't a necessity. If you don't the difference between the two why bother posting?

And yes they should be banned unless it's a serious emotional problem.

You can take antihistamines, a blind person doesn't have the luxury of popping a tablet for instantaneous relief.

allergies can be life threatening.
people die of allergies every day. antihistamines don't do much in many cases.

I have an office dog. He is half poodle so hypoallergenic. But I guess some people would still struggle

What about people that don’t like or are afraid of dogs or prefer to work in a more traditional office environment without family pets?

Certainly in my industry there are multitudes of handbags dogs brought everywhere and it’s clearly not always in the best interests of the animals to be at a party or a fashion show.

I have never ever come across this in RL
Fret ye not OP

The emotional support provision has been abused. When used for its intended purpose it is the difference between a disabled person being able to travel or not being able to. But now people are using it to cover all sorts of animals and without evidence of disability.

Non visible disabilities can be just as disabling as visible ones. In that respect, emotional support animals should be treated the same as guide dogs. What needs to happen is the people who are abusing the scheme need to be weeded out and banned.

You put Restaurants, cafes & hotels are increasingly dog friendly, with no regard for those for whom close proximity with animals is an issue. That would also include guide dogs.

Usually places have notices saying dog friendly or specific cat cafes and restaurants pop up.

I think I would draw the line on a horse they smell bad on a confined space like a plane.

people die of allergies every day. antihistamines don't do much in many cases. I must admit I hadn't given thought to an emotional wasp.

Emotional support animals on a plane are dangerous, does nobody remember that Samuel L Jackson documentary?

Emotional support animals on a plane are dangerous, does nobody remember that Samuel L Jackson documentary?
😂

My DH has severe asthma, triggered by some animals and he would really suffer if there was a horse on his flight so yabu and whilst I have sympathy for people who need a support pet (I suffer with anxiety myself) I don’t think it’s fair to potentially make people very ill.

I geh an anaphylactic reaction when a dog licks me.

many people don't quite understand allergies or the effect they can have.

If your antihistamines are ineffective, then see your GP for better ones. My DD is very allergic to a number of things to the point of anaphylaxis and takes super strong ones prescribed by the GP. Whilst not perfect or a cure, they do help a tremendous amount when she visits us. We have dogs.

I don't think a horse should be in the cabin of a plane, although I would love it, but why should someone's service dog, regardless of why they have them, not travel? Your allergies don't trump the need for the dog.

I think lots of people think of allergies as 'mild discomfort' & generally there is a fairly low tolerance for allergies as a serious illness.
It's interesting that the issue of diabetic & epilepsy support allergies have been raised...my first instinct is, of course, those support need are prioritised.
But if allergies are serious & induce asthma attacks, then are those needs as relevant as any other serious health issue?
My AIBU is asked because I think it's a really difficult issue.
I know there aren't going to be a stampede of tiny horses on every Jet2.com flight, but in the face of people with serious allergies & those with 'support' needs - who decides?

In the US it's pretty clear cut that the need for an emotional support animals trumps a person who siffers from allergies everytime.

This is one of the many reasons people get bent out of shape over fake ESA's and service dogs.

I'd have to get off the plane if there was a cat or a horse. No antihistamine would have any effect. I think you should be made aware before any flight so a decision on who doesn't fly can be made.

On balance, I don’t think emotional support pets should fly in the cabin. As far as I’m aware, they’re not allowed to on UK flights?

After the spate of emus, peacocks, donkeys and what have you, I wonder if US airlines might rethink.

what I want to know is: how did they contain the pony - I mean he wouldn't fit into a seat belt? (seen to many of those airplane incident programs etc) Have visions of little (solid & heavy)pony being pitched onto someone & flattening them if aircraft hits air pocket or if it has bouncy landing?

Antihistamines don't stop people going into anaphylactic shock.

My family who have severe allergies aren't allergic to animals but to food items and have EpiPens.

Myself on the other hand just takes antihistamines while freaking out the people next to me who think I'm going into anaphylaxis.

@mumwon

This is fucking ridiculous. No one needs to have a horse with them to get on a plane.