A debate has been raging in the US for ages now about whether or not people should be allowed to take their “emotional support animals” onto planes.

It’s no secret that America doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to providing support for people who struggle with mental health issues. They also don’t have a great track record when it comes to gun control, and the two combined have had unsurprising results.

For some people, simply having a furry (or scaly or feathery) friend alongside them can work wonders for their anxiety levels and sense of wellbeing.

The problem comes in when the animal in question is a little unconventional.

To give you an idea of just how weird things can get, watch The Guardian‘s report on some of the emotional support animals out there:

You can’t deny it. Wally the alligator is surprisingly cute.

According to the US Department of Transportation, Wally would not be allowed to accompany his owner on a plane. They will, however, allow you to bring your miniature horse on board.

The New York Post has more:

Miniature horses are among the types of service animals the US Department of Transportation has approved for planes in its latest ruling on the matter.

The decision came after more than a year of deliberations over how to regulate service animals and emotional support animals on flights. Travelers have tried to bring in all kinds of animals onto flights in recent years, from peacocks to pet pigs.

While these animals provide emotional and medical benefits, their presence in enclosed spaces also comes with a fair amount of risk.

Recently, a Delta passenger was attacked by a veteran’s emotional support pit bull.

In July, a flight attendant needed stitches after being bit by an emotional support dog. In the gross-but-not-entirely-surprising category, in 2014, a flight to Los Angeles was grounded after a service dog pooped multiple times in the aisle, causing people on the flight to dry heave or throw up.

It doesn’t help that the emotional support licenses have become increasingly dubious.

“In the last few weeks alone Flight Attendants have been hurt and safety has been compromised by untrained animals loose in the cabin,” a statement from the Association of Flight Attendants read. “Fraudulent claims of emotional support animals not only threatens safety and health, it can interfere with the rights of passengers who legitimately need the assistance of trained animals.”

The new rules from the US Department of Transportation have been put in place to provide airlines with the guidelines they need to determine which animals should be allowed on flights.

And believe it or not, the department considers miniature horses one of the more “common” service animals that are “generally accepted for transport.”

The horses were grouped in the same category as dogs and cats.

A spokesperson for the Association of Flight Attendants confirmed that the tiny equines are quite the travelers.

You’ll be happy to know that support snakes, ferrets, rodents, and spiders can now be safely turned away by airlines.

In the words of Samuel L. Jackson:

[sources:guardian&nypost]