Airline Passenger Faces Backlash for Traveling With Enormous Animal

An airline passenger has gone viral for bringing a large animal on a recent flight that was nearly the size of a horse.

In the video, which was posted to Instagram by an executive coach named Rob, the passenger can be seen boarding the fight, on an unspecified carrier, with an enormous Great Dane. As the animal awkwardly made its way onto the plane, it accidentally stepped onto the foot of the decidedly nonplussed flight attendant, who exclaimed, "Ow!" 

"Me: Have we taken this support animal thing too far? Society: Hold my beer," he wrote in text overlaying the clip, adding in the caption: "The flight attendant’s reaction is everything" with a cry-laugh emoji. It's worth noting that while the dog is identified in the video as an "emotional support" animal, its exact status was not immediately verifiable by Men's Journal. 

In a follow-up video, Rob posted that the dog even got its own seat. And given that the breed can weigh anywhere from 140 to 175 pounds, according to the American Kennel Club—as much an actual person—this seems well-advised.

As the post went viral, people in the comments weighed in to express their shock and disbelief that someone would bring such a large animal on a flight. "Emotional support for one person, emotional distress for hundreds! This is ridiculous!" wrote one user, while another added: "I love dogs but this s--t is getting out of hand."

"As a person who had a Great Dane and viewing this one’s classic body language, this is NOT an assisted therapy animal," reasoned one pet owner.

But at least one person said they wouldn't mind if the large dog was their seat mate, writing: "I'd rather sit next to the sweet giant than another person."

Back in 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation revised its Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) pertaining to the transportation of service animals by air, after passengers began bringing snakes, birds, and other unconventional animals on flights.

The new rule states that a service animal is defined solely as a dog, regardless of breed or type, that is "individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability." The rule also gives airlines permission to recognize "emotional support animals" as pets, rather than service animals.

When it comes to bringing pets on planes, most airlines do allow them, however each airline has its own policies and may limit to cats and dogs that meet the size, age, and destination requirements. Dogs this size are often required to travel as cargo if they are not service dogs, although rules vary.