United Airlines and Delta aren't monkeying around when it comes to emotional support animals.
Alyssa Phillips is from Salt Lake City. She's seen no unusual animals on planes. She told us, "Dogs. I've heard of cats before."
But Wayne Krause from San Diego has seen a little more. "I've seen everything from a pig to a hamster," he said.
People have tried to bring all sorts of animals on airplanes for emotional support. Last month, one woman claimed she flushed her emotional support hamster, named "Pebbles" down the toilet after Spirit Airlines said she was not allowed to fly with the hamster. In January, a performance artist tried to bring an emotional support peacock named Dexter on board. And check this out, he's even got his own Instagram!
Any service animal is allowed on a plane, and according to the American's With Disabilities Act, only dogs count as a service animals. Well, actually there is one other: a miniature horse. But the ADA says it does have to be housebroken. Phillips added, "If I was sitting close to it I will probably talk to the person who had it."
So how are emotional support animals different from service animals? Krause said, "Emotional support animals are just there to help calm the individual." That's right. And a service dog has tasks directly related to the owner's disability.
So what do our travelers think about emotional support animals? "I don't know if I should be the one to say what animals should count," Phillips said.
Krause added, "It's ridiculous. In my world, animals make me feel better just for companionship, not necessarily to support me or make me feel better on a tough situation, and traveling, I don't know if that's a tough situation."
But if you do have a burning desire to hop on a jet with an emotional support chinchilla, call the airline at least 48 hours in advance to make sure its okay. You'll also need a prescription letter from a licensed mental health professional to have it join you in the cabin. But if you can't bring your animal on the plane, Krause offers another option.
"Toughen up or take a bus."