Woman stopped from bringing "emotional support peacock" onto plane

Scarinae

A United Airlines passenger who tried to take her “emotional support peacock” with her on a flight from Newark to Los Angeles was turned away by the airline because of health and safety concerns.

A female traveller was recently banned from taking a large "emotional-support peacock" on board a United Airlines flight, it has emerged.

She had offered to buy the bird its own plane ticket, according to travel blog Live and Let Fly.

Nonetheless the airline refused to let the bird board at Newark airport in New Jersey, saying it did not meet guidelines due to its weight and size.

United says this was explained to the traveller before she arrived at Newark.

Pictures of the striking bird and its owner, attempting to travel to Los Angeles, emerged via The Jet Set, a travel-based talk show.

The images show the animal perched on an airport baggage trolley, as fellow passengers gaze at it in shock.

After six hours at the airport, the exotic bird and its human companions decided to take to the road and instead drive across the US.

It's pretty funny a bizarre sort of way, but it's also made me wonder if stunts like this make it harder for people who have genuine support animals to be taken seriously - I don't think the peacock really is a support animal, he belongs to an artist who originally got him for an art installation.

The peacock, reportedly called Dexter, belongs to Brooklyn-based artist Ventiko, who documents its life on social media.

"I have never left the house without having at least one person react," Ventiko told a local culture website in 2017.

The artist, whose real name is not known, told Bedford and Bowery that the feathery giant "really changed my life in a positive way".

She originally bought Dexter and a peahen called Etta for an art installation. She later found them a new home from which Etta and her offspring disappeared.

The loss affected Dexter's behaviour and Ventiko came to his rescue after hearing that the bird was housed in a garage. Following a failed stint at an upstate New York farm, Ventiko finally decided to welcome Dexter into her Bushwick loft.

Now involved in her photography and performance art, the exotic bird appears to enjoy his New York life.

However, he avoids public transportation, like the subway, because Ventiko doesn't "want to traumatise him".

Airlines have allowed some passengers with emotional or psychiatric problems to take therapy animals on board with them.

But the number of emotional support animals has been rising in recent years, sparking suggestions that people are abusing the system.

In 2014, a woman was escorted off a US Airways flight when her pig, named Hobie, defecated and squealed before the plane took off.

Ubbquittious

You can't bring jack sh1t onto a plane these days. I remember fondly the time when you could walk into the cockpit and show the captain the nice shiny new revolver you were after buying while on holidays and there wasn't a word said about it.

ancapailldorcha

At least they didn't assault her.

Grayson

Ubbquittious wrote: »

You can't bring jack sh1t onto a plane these days. I remember fondly the time when you could walk into the cockpit and show the captain the nice shiny new revolver you were after buying while on holidays and there wasn't a word said about it.

I watched Die Hard the other night. Bruce Willis is on a plane at the beginning, having a smoke and carrying a gun. It's ok for him to have a gun because he's a cop.

Grayson

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

At least they didn't assault her.

I'm sure she would have cried fowl

I now really want a peacock called Dexter.

GLaDOS

Imagine sitting down for a long haul fly and some nutjob lands a fúcking peacock next to you.

Nabber

If the person was offended then the law needs to be changed so that person is no longer offended.
If you are offended by said new law, then you are a Nazi.

The Backwards Man

I was always of the impression that peacocks couldn't fly.

Scarinae

Candie wrote: »

I now really want a peacock called Dexter.

He has an Instagram account - here is a pic of him looking disgruntled in the airport

padd b1975

Dexter will be launching a multi million dollar lawsuit any day now.

DEFTLEFTHAND

Fcuk me that's a beautiful looking creature.

Are they prone to aggression though? I remember my Senior Infants teacher getting attacked by one on our school tour to a pet farm.

Scarinae

Scarinae wrote: »

He has an Instagram account - here is a pic of him looking disgruntled in the airport

That is one photogenic emotional support animal there!

MilesMorales1

I actually think support animals are a great idea (do we have the same thing here?) cos I know animals can be a great emotional support thing and I'm sure anyone with a lovely dog or cat would agree, but a ****ing peacock is the definition of taking the piss.

whisky_galore

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

Fcuk me that's a beautiful looking creature.

Are they prone to aggression though? I remember my Senior Infants teacher getting attacked by one on our school tour to a pet farm.

They are noisy fcukers as well.

Like swans I think they are overrated.

wexie

Surprising actually, given there is precedent for 'emotional support' ducks, turkeys, pigs and bleeding horses (small ones) already....

We live in odd times...

More here

Noveight

Therapy dogs I understand but "emotional support animals"?

Catch a hold of yourself!

donegaLroad

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

Fcuk me that's a beautiful looking creature.

Are they prone to aggression though? I remember my Senior Infants teacher getting attacked by one on our school tour to a pet farm.

I think they are alright, they make a lot of noise when they are conflustered.

suicide_circus

What about people on these flights who afraid of these animals?

milehip

suicide_circus wrote: »

What about people on these flights who afraid of these animals?

They can ask for emotional support narcotics.

milehip

suicide_circus wrote: »

What about people on these flights who afraid of these animals?

They can ask for emotional support narcotics.

DEFTLEFTHAND

Think I might get myself a pet duck or maybe a hog. I'll bring them down to the pub with me and they can drink Guinness and eat taytos.

Ave Sodalis

MilesMorales1 wrote: »

I actually think support animals are a great idea (do we have the same thing here?)

Yup!

wexie wrote: »

Surprising actually, given there is precedent for 'emotional support' ducks, turkeys, pigs and bleeding horses (small ones) already....

Ponies and horses are actually recognised as emotional support animals and therapy animals. There are several dedicated centres around the country that do some fantastic work. Festina Lente in Wicklow is the biggest, I think.

It's worth looking into. I've heard of a young non-communicative autistic girl who, when left alone with the pony she connected with, started hugging it and humming to it. There's multiple stories of them helping with PTSD, and they're also used in highly troubled areas to reduce crime and gang activity.

wexie

Ave Sodalis wrote: »

Ponies and horses are actually recognised as emotional support animals and therapy animals. There are several dedicated centres around the country that do some fantastic work. Festina Lente in Wicklow is the biggest, I think.

It's worth looking into. I've heard of a young non-communicative autistic girl who, when left alone with the pony she connected with, started hugging it and humming to it. There's multiple stories of them helping with PTSD, and they're also used in highly troubled areas to reduce crime and gang activity.

Oh don't get me wrong, I've heard great things about (for example) the effects interaction with horses can have on autistic kids.

It's the bringing them on a plane I find a bit mind boggling. (well, and the turkey)

demanufactured

That's it, I'm away to town to buy an emotional support urangutang.

dudara

Scarinae wrote: »

He has an Instagram account - here is a pic of him looking disgruntled in the airport

Goddamn - that bird gets out more than I do

Ave Sodalis

wexie wrote: »

Oh don't get me wrong, I've heard great things about (for example) the effects interaction with horses can have on autistic kids.

It's the bringing them on a plane I find a bit mind boggling. (well, and the turkey)

They got the clearance to be a service animal a good few years ago. They're used as guide animals for the blind, along with other service animal tasks. Not sure if they're cleared in Ireland for it, but the ADA in America definitely permits ponies as service, guide and emotional support animals.

pjohnson

wexie wrote: »

Oh don't get me wrong, I've heard great things about (for example) the effects interaction with horses can have on autistic kids.

It's the bringing them on a plane I find a bit mind boggling. (well, and the turkey)

Turkey could be for the flight meal.

E mac

Imagine bringing an emotional support lion on long haul

Scarinae

Ave Sodalis wrote: »

Ponies and horses are actually recognised as emotional support animals and therapy animals. There are several dedicated centres around the country that do some fantastic work. Festina Lente in Wicklow is the biggest, I think.

It's worth looking into. I've heard of a young non-communicative autistic girl who, when left alone with the pony she connected with, started hugging it and humming to it. There's multiple stories of them helping with PTSD, and they're also used in highly troubled areas to reduce crime and gang activity.

I didn't realise that Festina Lente did that, I knew they did horseriding lessons but that's fantastic.

Like I was saying in the original post though, I don't think this woman really has the peacock as an emotional support animal - she was just being a chancer, which dilutes the term for people who actually benefit from such animals and it means that the concept could be taken less seriously overall.

freshpopcorn

It would just be my luck to get landed next to big cock!

Capt'n Midnight

Wasn't the whole thing that the bird exceeded the dimensions ?

But if she'd clipped a few tail feathers there'd be no story to monetise.

Capt'n Midnight

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

Think I might get myself a pet duck or maybe a hog. I'll bring them down to the pub with me and they can drink Guinness and eat taytos.

Duck in pub ?

There was an old variety act in which a man played an upright piano with a live duck on top, and the duck would dance to the music.



Years later after yer man died they figured out how he did the act, he'd wired a hotplate in the piano :eek:

hatrickpatrick

Waterford Whispers writers must be getting a little concerned at how real life is fast outpacing satire

decky1

AMERICAN---- say no more,

Dev84

I need emotional support for my pea
cock.

Noveight

decky1 wrote: »

AMERICAN---- say no more,

A quick Google seems to suggest that dogs are the emotional support animal of choice in Ireland and the UK.

Makes sense, really. An emotional support peacock is just nonsensical.

Dank Janniels

I hate to make light of peoples health issues but what kinda psyciatrist or health care provider would prescribe a feckin peacock as an emotional support animal?? Yes puppys, kittens even a cute bunny rabbit but a feckin peacock???

Widdershins

So it's a pet, in other words.
What amuses me is that the other passengers stood gazing at it ''in shock''. I'd be like ''Oh, a peacock! Kewl!''

Rubberchikken

Positive interaction between animals and humans is wonderful.

conor2469

Surely the hassle and scenes caused by these unconventional emotional support animals would outweigh the emotional support they provide?! Apparently a lot of people are using the emotional support angle to bring their pet with them everywhere they go, you can buy the vest on amazon for 15 euro.

Ave Sodalis

conor2469 wrote: »

Surely the hassle and scenes caused by these unconventional emotional support animals would outweigh the emotional support they provide?! Apparently a lot of people are using the emotional support angle to bring their pet with them everywhere they go, you can buy the vest on amazon for 15 euro.

As far as I know, and this could be entirely an American thing, but ESA are only allowed on flights and they over rule the no-pets clause in accommodation. Only service dogs/animals with public training can go everywhere.

everlast75

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

Are they prone to aggression though?

Only when refused boarding...

inforfun

Soon i will not be going outside without my emotional support UZI

conor2469

Ave Sodalis wrote: »

As far as I know, and this could be entirely an American thing, but ESA are only allowed on flights and they over rule the no-pets clause in accommodation. Only service dogs/animals with public training can go everywhere.

Ah yes you are right, I mixed up the terms. People were putting fake "Service" vests on their dogs so that they could bring them on trains and into shops. The witnesses claimed that the dogs were not real service dogs as they were misbehaving, jumping up on the owner and other strangers, not acting a like a real service dog should.

Ave Sodalis

conor2469 wrote:

Ah yes you are right, I mixed up the terms. People were putting fake "Service" vests on their dogs so that they could bring them on trains and into shops. The witnesses claimed that the dogs were not real service dogs as they were misbehaving, jumping up on the owner and other strangers, not acting a like a real service dog should.

It must be so frustrating for those with genuine service animals because they're going to encounter more hostility from companies who had to deal with the fakes.

Pepefrogok

How selfish, animals will be bewildered and stressed by the whole airport/plane/flying experience, sure they will snuggle into their owner out of fear but it's just a selfish act.

Call Me Jimmy

Pepefrogok wrote: »

How selfish, animals will be bewildered and stressed by the whole airport/plane/flying experience, sure they will snuggle into their owner out of fear but it's just a selfish act.

Well then the state needs to provide an emotional support-support lemur to support the emotional support peacock. This woman has a right to fly noah's ark style if that's what it takes. Judging by the ignorant comments in this thread an awareness campaign is long overdue.

diomed

I nearly got shot for taking a photo of a peacock.

Kat1170

Rubberchikken wrote: »

Positive interaction between animals and humans is wonderful.

And gravy, don't forget the gravy. You can keep yer fancy sauces Oh, and roast spuds, stuffing, and and and.... Ah here feck it, all the trimmings. Yum :)

Dev84

Rubberchikken wrote: »

Positive interaction between animals and humans is wonderful.

Yes, positive interaction between humans and my pea cock is also wonderful