As the U.S. Department of Transportation considers sweeping changes that would allow airlines to ban emotional support animals and limit service animals to dogs, one miniature horse traveled across the country in first class on American Airlines.
Ronica Froese and her horse “Fred” flew from Grand Rapids, Michigan (GRR) to Ontario, California (ONT) via Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) on American Airlines. Fred is not an emotional support animal, but a trained service animal. The outbound journey took place on February 7th and the return on February 14th.
Froese runs a non-profit called Little Horses Big Smiles that trains horses to be service animals. In other words, this isn’t a sham “emotional support” animal like the disgusting duo of two dogs on a recent Delta flight. Instead, Fred was actually a legitimate service animal that was trained to sit still, be quiet, and not defecate or urinate on the cabin floor.
Fred also flew first class…and did not invade someone else’s legroom, because Froese purchased two first class seats.
By the way, Fred has his own Facebook page and is a big supporter of President Trump. He did not take kindly to the way Fox News covered his first class trip:
This is the world we live in with the media. I gave them a novel of information and this is how we get reported.
These 5 anchors from The Five are COMPLETE A******* and owe me an apology.
No I’m not a victim and do not have a fake service animal. They owe people with PTSD an apology as well with the jab in this segment.
Plus I told their media lady that contacted me why Fred wore the sleazy. #fakenews
Screw you Fox News I’ll never watch again.
Today I know exactly how my President Donald J. Trump feels daily with the media attacked.
IN A WORLD WHERE YOU CAN BE ANYTHING BE KIND.
LOL!
You can see more comments/posts here.
CONCLUSION
I don’t know about you, but I’m not at all bothered by Fred. He’s a trained service animal, not an emotional support animal, and he had his own first class seat. In other words, he did not bother anyone onboard (that we have heard from). While new regulations might force him out of the sky, I don’t think horses like Fred are the problem…
image: Facebook, Fred-Mini Service Horse
Amen. He did not bother anyone . . . except those triggered by a bizarre sense of envy because somebody on the plane is having more fun than they are. Most of the irrational responses to people traveling with pets (whether service animals or not) are driven by this unfortunately human emotion).
Stan, Chotchkie’s Manager : We need to talk about your flair.
Joanna : Really? I… I have fifteen pieces on. I, also…
Stan, Chotchkie’s Manager : Well, okay. Fifteen is the minimum, okay?
Joanna : Okay.
Stan, Chotchkie’s Manager : Now, you know it’s up to you whether or not you want to just do the bare minimum. Or… well, like Brian, for example, has thirty seven pieces of flair, okay. And a terrific smile.
It’s a horse. Enough said.
Some not for profit org – flying a horse (and its owner) in FIRST CLASS. I hope the IRS investigates them, instead of doing farcical investigations of republicans.
Why, if they are just as shady as this not for profit org is, they should be investigated.
This only happens in America, I wonder how the rest of the world survives without the joy of flying with a service animal?
As a Pilot at this company, I am over all this. If the animal does not fit in a carrier and goes under the seat then it should go in the heated animal friendly cargo. What I have seen over the years is insanity and needs to end.
Wondering how many animals your airline has killed in their cargo holds in the past 5 years?
Do you think that any rational person would accept your airline’s animal cargo kill rate if applied to human family members?
agreed. I can’t imagine that a horse (or a dog, or a…) wouldn’t be an issue in case of an onboard emergency.
Only humans should be allowed inside airplane cabins.
I have had service animals sniff my privates, sit on my feet and push me.
I should not be forced to be near your animal just as I should not be forced to inhale your smoke or watch you have sex.
Your home or your chartered plane is the place for all of the above.
Perhaps a dose of their own medicine is too bitter to swallow? I really don’t understand why this article is not rebranded to address Trump voters to push back against right leaning news agency like FoxNews.
Sweet. I’d love to sit near Fred. Completely harmless and would make a boring flight more interesting.
I think Fred should stay out of politics. He comes across as a snowflake.
Yeah, Fred is awesome until there is heavy turbulence and he goes flying in the air and lands on top of someone!
There is absolutely no reason that I should ever have to share an airplane cabin with an animal. If idiots insist on flying with animals they should fly together in cargo……