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Southwest Airlines cracks down on emotional support animals... but miniature ponies can still fly

An air passenger lands in Australia to be greeted by a python. Snakes have been banned by the Southwest airline in the US, even if passengers insist they are for emotional support: Getty Images for GOLDOC
An air passenger lands in Australia to be greeted by a python. Snakes have been banned by the Southwest airline in the US, even if passengers insist they are for emotional support: Getty Images for GOLDOC

Southwest Airlines has tightened its rules on allowing emotional support animals on flights , banning passengers from bringing snakes and pigs on board.

The airline has announced it will only allow cats, dogs and miniature horses on its flights.

Southwest will limit emotional support animals to one per traveller as of September 17, and ferrets, spiders and hedgehogs have been added to the no-fly list alongside the reptiles.

Miniature ponies are also still allowed to fly as trained service animals, if owners can give "credible verbal assurance" that the animal is a trained.

The Dallas-based airline is the latest carrier to crack down on the boom in emotional support animals on commercial flights.

Steve Goldberg, Senior Vice President of Operations and Hospitality, said: "We welcome emotional support and trained service animals that provide needed assistance to our Customers. However, we want to make sure our guidelines are clear and easy to understand while providing Customers and Employees a comfortable and safe experience."

Southwest said in its statement yesterday that psychiatric-service animals, those trained to help people with a mental disability, will still be permitted but said it will only allow dogs, cats and miniature horses in this category while "unusual or exotic animals" such as rodents, ferrets, insects, spiders, reptiles, hedgehogs, rabbits, or sugar gliders will not be accepted.

The acceptance of animals on American flights became increasingly popular since 2014 when the Department of Transportation brought out new guidelines. But, it has been legal to take support animals onto domestic flights since 1986.

Passengers can certify their own animals for emotional support with great ease raising concern that many are using the scheme to avoid in-cabin pet fees.

On one flight in 2014, passengers travelling from Washington DC to Connecticut were shocked when a woman carried on a large pig, the size of a duffel bag, which squealed loudly and defecated in the aisle. The pig and his travelling companion eventually had to be taken off the flight.

San Francisco Airport has even introduced a ‘therapy pig’ to greet customers in the airport while dressed in pilot costumes. The pig, named Lilou, has her own Instagram account with 18,000 followers.

In the past Twitter has been plastered with photos of therapy ducks, dogs, turkeys and United Airlines reportedly denied travel to a peacock earlier in the year.

Passengers and crew have complained of air cabins being turned into 'barnyards' with complaints about problems with mess and allergies.

It joins American, Delta, United and JetBlue who have all made similar rule changes this year.