I was lucky enough recently to fly out to America to visit my brother. I haven’t flown to the States for years and was really looking forward to it.

But, as soon as I sat down I got the fear, not that I’m afraid of flying, I love it. No, I found myself sitting next to a mean, hairy beast.

Its owner on the next seat along was very nearly as bad but just laughed and told the boisterous little bugger he was ‘a good boy’.

In my naivety I thought animals weren’t allowed on planes, well not in the cabin anyway, surely even the snakes in the film of the same name escaped from the hold?

I mean, I love man’s best friend as much as the next man but if this monster had taken it into his head he could have mauled or molested any young or frail passenger.

After take-off Riley settled down and his owner was able to relax her hold on him. She leant across to assure me he really is no trouble and just gets excited at the start of flights.

I asked if he wouldn’t be more at ease and comfortable in a flight cage in the hold but his owner explained the only reason he was in the cabin was to keep her calm! I didn’t tell her, but he certainly hadn’t had that effect on me!

'There are cases of pot-bellied pigs, miniature horses and even a peacock being taken on flights...'

As the flight neared landfall we’d covered a number of subjects but the conversation always reverted to the Spaniel and its owner explained he’s an ESA and travels for free.

I questioned ESA and was told it stands for an emotional support animal. In other words Riley was there to bring comfort to his owner and minimise the negative symptoms of her emotional or psychological ‘disability’.

Unlike service animals, they don’t need any training as their only function is to alleviate symptoms of the owner. In reality, the only requirement is they are under control and don’t create a nuisance.

So, ESAs are not registered and have no certificate of any sort, all you need is a letter from a licensed therapist, psychologist or doctor. And, as his owner candidly revealed, this is how Riley scored a free flight – she has a therapist friend who agreed to write a letter confirming he is emotionally supportive.

She basically admitted the whole thing’s a complete con and being used as a way of scoring free flights for pets. The trouble is, so many folks are now up to the ruse airlines are onto them and some are not as keen to comply.

When we landed and were collected by my brother I mentioned it to him as he travels a lot and he says he sees it all the time, he even pointed out a special room at the airport which has been set aside for ESAs.

In fact, when I later consulted the internet there were cases reported of pot-bellied pigs, miniature horses and even one case of a peacock being taken on board as an ESA. It looks to me as if some folks have been abusing the simplicity of the process and threaten to ruin it for everyone.

Mind you, on the subject of scams there was a warning online for pet owners to beware websites offering ESA certificates for a fee as no such certificates exist – talk about scammers scamming scammers.

Personally I’m pleased airlines are cottoning onto this nonsense as I don’t want to be travelling on planes turned into some sort of bizarre Noah’s Ark.

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