New York Post, Thursday, December 3, 2020nypost.comBy AAron FeisNow the only zoo will be at the
baggage claim.
The US Department of Transpor-
tation ruled Wednesday that dogs
are the only service animals per-
mitted to join their owners on
flights — grounding a menagerie
that in recent years has included
pigs, turtles, a turkey and even a
small horse.
The legal decree, which takes ef-
fect in 30 days, aims to settle years
of tension between airlines and
passengers who insist on bringing
their pets aboard as passengers —
without a fee — by saying that they
need the critters for emotional
support.
Previously, the TransportationDepartment had required airlines
to allow aboard any animals whose
human companions presented a
doctor’s note attesting that they
provide emotional comfort.
The results were nothing short of
wild, with cats, pigs and turtles get-
ting cleared for takeoff.
In 2016, a “therapy” turkey was
spotted aboard a Delta flight.
Earlier this year, a Michigan
woman brought a miniature horse
named Fred on a first-class trip to
California.
And in 2018, a Brooklyn artist
named Ventiko tried to bring her
peacock, Dexter, aboard a Newark-
to-LA flight — but United Airlines
put its foot down, nixing the move
over the bird’s size.
Airlines have long groused thatsome passengers were abusing the
companion privilege, whether to
save a buck on transporting their
furry and feathered friends cross-
country or simply because they
wanted the in-flight company.
The new rule will likely force
those passengers to check their an-
imal pals into the cargo hold for a
fee — or leave them out of their
travel plans altogether.
Canines, however, remain a
flyer’s best friend, with the new
rule more narrowly defining a ser-
vice animal as a dog trained to help
a person with a disability.
The rule still requires airlines to
treat dogs skilled in helping peo-
ple with psychiatric issues, the
same as other service animals, at
the urging of advocates for groupsincluding military veterans.
Airlines can, however, require
owners to vouch for their dogs’
health, behavior and training.
They can also require flyers with
service dogs to turn in paperwork
up to 48 hours before a flight but
can’t bar those travelers from
checking in online like other pas-
sengers.
Pooches must be leashed at all
times during flights, and airlines
can bar a dog that demonstrates
aggressive behavior.
Among the groups that lobbied
for the change earlier this year was
the Association of Flight Attend-
ants, whose president, Sara Nelson,
said, “The days of Noah’s Ark in
the air are hopefully coming to an
end.” With Wireswe banned a zoo
no more no more
pony rideS:pony rideS:pony rideS:
The Department The Department The Department
of Transportation of Transportation of Transportation
is putting an end is putting an end is putting an end
to “emotional to “emotional
support” critters support” critters support” critters
like this like this
American American American
Airlines flyer’s Airlines flyer’s Airlines flyer’s
miniature horse miniature horse miniature horse
and a pet turkey and a pet turkey and a pet turkey
on a Delta flight.Tut Tut!
An Egyptian Instagram star
and her photographer are in
hot water over a saucy shoot
in front of a pyramid.
Salma al-Shimi and shutter-
bug Houssam Mohammad
were arrested Monday fol-
lowing the shoot at the Saq-
qara necropolis, 20 miles
south of Cairo, Agence
France-Presse reported.
The busty model had
posted images of herself in
revealing ancient Egyptian
garb with pharaoh-like acces-
sories last week near the
4,700-year-old Step Pyramid
of Djoser.
A judicial source said the
two — who were released on
$32 bail each Tuesday — are
being investigated for “taking
photos without authorization
in the Saqqara site.”
The matter was referred to
prosecutors by the secretary-
general of Egypt’s Supreme
Council of Antiquities, who
deemed the images “inappro-
priate.”
Al-Shimi said she had been
unaware that photography at
archaeological sites without
a permit was forbidden.
Mohammad told Youm
TV before he was detained
that Shimi entered the site
wearing an abaya — a loose-
fitting robe — as requested
by staff, then changed when
they arrived on location.
He claimed that six em-
ployees came to watch the 15-
minute shoot at the ancient
burial ground without re-
questing that the two stop.
Mohammad speculated
that “if a thin girl was in
Salma’s place, the issue
would be very normal.”
One social-media user
wrote, “Is there really a ban
on taking photographs in ar-
chaeological zones, even pic-
tures that are not indecent
but completely normal?”
Yaron Steinbuch, Tamar Lapin
Model’s
pyramid
‘scheme’
Salma al-Shimi
Egyptian photo-shoot bust.