HUD asks FTC to investigate websites selling assistance animal documentation
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November 22, 2025

Recently, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson wrote to Chairman of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Joseph J. Simons and Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection Andrew Smith requesting that the FTC investigate certain websites that may be selling assistance animal documentation.

“These certificates are not an acceptable substitute for authentic documentation provided by medical professionals when appropriate,” said Secretary Carson. “These websites that sell assistance animal certificates are often also misleading by implying that they are affiliated with the federal government. Nothing could be further from the truth. Their goal is to convince individuals with disabilities that they need to spend hundreds of dollars on worthless documentation to keep their assistance animal in their homes.”

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Miniature horses are welcome as service animals, but monkeys are a maybe, according to U.S. airline regulators
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November 22, 2025

Miniature horses are in, for now. But capuchin monkeys are on shakier ground.

The U.S. Department of Transportation said Wednesday that it will work to make sure “the most commonly used service animals (i.e., dogs, cats, and miniature horses)” are still allowed on flights, despite increased efforts by airlines to crack down on fraudulent assistance critters of all kinds.

Reports of maulings, allergic reactions, faked medical necessity forms and other abuses have poisoned the environment for responsible travelers who legitimately need service animals. The problems have spurred major airlines, including Delta, United and Alaska, to tighten their rules for psychiatric service animals and emotional support companions.

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Meet Flirty the miniature horse and service animal for Bellevue woman
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November 22, 2025

Miniature horses can be trained to work and perform tasks for a person with disabilities. Hensley said Flirty helps her with medical alerts and mobility assistance.

Hensley, who trained horses for 20 years, said Flirty was a show pony before her job as a service animal.

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The Completely Reasonable Reason People Are Flying With Mini Horses
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November 22, 2025

The Department of Transportation’s declaration that miniature horses should be prioritized as service animals has raised many questions.

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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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Senate bill introduced to strengthen airline service animal procedures, eliminate emotional support animals on planes
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November 22, 2025

Senator Richard Burr introduced legislation to align the definition of a “service animal” under the Air Carriers Access Act (ACAA) with the definition under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), establish a criminal penalty for making misrepresentations about a service animal, and require federal agencies to establish a standard of service animal behavior training for animals who will be working on an aircraft.

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Service dogs actually help veterans with PTSD, new study says
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November 22, 2025

Up until this point there has been limited research on the how and why service dogs are believed to help PTSD symptoms.

“It’s not a cure. I think some people come into this thinking that the dog is magic and that PTSD will be gone once they have the dog but our data shows that it’s certainly not a cure but that it will substantially reduce symptoms for individuals,” said Assistant Professor of Human-Animal Interaction Maggie O’Haire.

The study was led by O’Haire. She said prior to the study there was a lot of anecdotal info and great stories but no science behind it.

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