Royal Caribbean bans emotional support animals from all cruises
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November 22, 2025

“We are updating the policy to differentiate emotional support animals from service animals that are trained and certified to perform a function for a person with a disability,” a spokeswoman for Royal Caribbean said in an email to MarketWatch. “It is important to us that all our guests enjoy their vacation, which is why we put into practice this new policy. Royal Caribbean’s policy remains the same for service animals traveling with guests that have a physical or non-physical disability.”

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Service dogs dilemma: ‘Loads of fakes’ detrimental to legitimate helper animals
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November 22, 2025

People have become emboldened to bring their pets along on public outings thanks to legal gray areas and widespread availability of service animal insignia. People are emboldened to bring their pets along on public outings thanks to legal gray areas and widespread availability of service animal insignia. “If you go anywhere on the internet you can buy a vest,” said Severt.

“If you Google ‘service dogs,’ the first thing that comes up is a registry. It’s totally bogus.” Yet pet owners purchase a certificate and claim they “have paperwork” when questioned, she said.

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Service dog company ‘bamboozled’ Virginia Tech student, judge says
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November 22, 2025

According to testimony and court filings, SDWR approached Tech students about volunteering as puppy raisers. In September 2017, Burch agreed to take a young service dog-in-training. Lesley would accompany Burch, a junior majoring in criminology, to classes and other public outings. Burch would bring the dog to training sessions SDWR held.

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University of Wisconsin Green Bay sees increase in emotional support animals on campus
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November 22, 2025

“Fair Housing has determined that universities do need to look at that and be able to provide reasonable accommodation so we have started to get more and more requests of emotional support animals,” said Lynn Niemi, Director of Disability Services at UWGB.

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Survey: 61 percent of flight attendants say emotional support animals have caused trouble midflight
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November 22, 2025

AFA reported earlier this week that 82 percent flight attendants surveyed agree that the DOT needs to release a more clarified policy on the requirements for emotional support animal in the high skies, while continuing necessary support for travelers with disabilities and veterans.

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Ole Miss banned a PTSD service dog from the classroom; now, advocates are fighting back
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November 22, 2025

The University of Mississippi last week banned a service dog from classrooms for allegedly disruptive behavior but the dog’s handler, the trainer and the director of the Mississippi chapter of the Wounded Warriors are vowing to fight back.

The student handler, an Ole Miss freshman who asked not to be identified because of her condition, said she relies on her brown Labrador, Violet, for comfort. She said university personnel told her Violet was no longer welcome in the classroom because she was “whining excessively” and wandering around the classroom, both claims she disputes.

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Resturants face pet owners who say they need emotional support
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November 22, 2025

Health codes do not allow animals in establishments that serve, sell or prepare food. When informed of that rule, some customers argue, citing the fact that the Americans With Disabilities Act allows service dogs in restaurants and other food establishments. Many will then produce a letter stating that a beloved pooch is an “emotional support animal” and must be treated like a service dog.

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Southwest latest airline to restrict service, emotional support animals
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November 22, 2025

For service animals, Southwest says it will accept “only the most common service animals — dogs, cats, and miniature horses.”

“For the health and safety of our customers and Employees, unusual or exotic animals will not be accepted,” the airline added in its statement.

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