Cute, but not cute enough: Delta bans emotional support puppies and kittens

The newest members of the no-fly list on Delta Airlines? Puppies and kittens acting as emotional support and service animals.

Furballs under the age of four months will no longer be allowed to fly as support and service companions, while all support animals will be banned on flights longer than eight hours, the airline announced on Tuesday. The ban does not affect pets traveling in enclosed carriers.

The new restrictions take effect on Dec. 18, just as millions of people are set to fly home for the holidays. Passengers who already purchased tickets and requested to fly with a support or service animal will have a grace period until Feb. 1, Delta said in a blog post. After that, they will be asked to adjust their reservations.

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP super PAC increases its spending for Sen. Jon Husted in tough Ohio race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

FOR SUBSCRIBERSFrom clean energy warrior to ‘wall of shame,’ James Talarico reverses on a fossil fuel money pledge

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation spotlights stringent New York state laws that have long drawn criticism

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThe debate over AI’s future rages on both coasts

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDecades-old march dispute reignites in Northern Ireland, threatening political crisis

The change in policy comes after Delta reported an 84 percent increase in incidents involving service animals during a two-year period ending in 2017, including an instance last year when a combat veteran’s 70-pound emotional support dog attacked another passenger on a flight. Delta has also reported problems with animals urinating, defecating and biting while in-flight.

John Laugher, Delta’s senior vice president of corporate safety, security and compliance said the updates are necessary for safety purposes and to “protect the rights of customers with documented needs — such as veterans with disabilities — to travel with trained service and support animals.”

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP super PAC increases its spending for Sen. Jon Husted in tough Ohio race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

FOR SUBSCRIBERSFrom clean energy warrior to ‘wall of shame,’ James Talarico reverses on a fossil fuel money pledge

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation spotlights stringent New York state laws that have long drawn criticism

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThe debate over AI’s future rages on both coasts

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDecades-old march dispute reignites in Northern Ireland, threatening political crisis

Delta’s restricted emotional support policy comes as airlines have had to crack down over the past year after passengers have tried to board with a menagerie of emotional support animals, including snakes, squirrels and a peacock. Most airlines allow passengers to fly with an emotional support animal if they present a doctor’s note stating their need; however, many websites also claim to quickly offer emotional support animal letters for a fee.

Many of the U.S. airlines now have policies clearly stating which types of animals are restricted. Among them are hedgehogs, goats, snakes and animals with tusks — which could be interpreted to mean that all emotional support walruses are best left at home, no matter how young they are.