Airline passenger boards flight with Great Dane support animal, critics say it’s ‘gone too far’
Angry passengers and flight crew have a bone to pick with one traveler and his support animal. While support animals can accompany their people where pets dare not tread, a viral video stirred up a storm when a Great Dane stepped onto a small airplane.
A Great Dane support animal in a viral video has flight-goers split
“Ow!” That’s what a flight attendant exclaimed after a Great Dane appeared to step on her foot in a viral video. Now, she seemed to get over the canine’s misstep rather quickly, but that didn’t stop the massive service animal from splitting opinions online.
On the one hand, dog lovers came to the Great Dane’s rescue. “I’d rather this than a bunch of screaming kids. That dog can sit next to me anytime,” one commenter posted on the Instagram video. Troublingly, “21 Jump Street” actor Holly Robinson Peete responded, “Oh my God that flight attendant pissed me off. That big baby can sit next to me anytime.”
On the other hand, critics claim that the travel companion has “no place” on a commercial airline. “I love dogs but this s–t is getting out of hand,” one viewer complained. Another viewer’s response with over 4,000 likes read, “The flight attendant didn’t do anything wrong. Everyone is not a dog person. All due respect that’s a huge difference between traveling with a small dog and [a] larger dog.”
However, even though a Great Dane can weigh as much as an adult passenger, US Service Animals asserts that the breed “makes a great service dog.” The organization pointed out that the animal’s large stature can be helpful for people with physical disabilities. For instance, a 150-lb Great Dane can pull a wheelchair-bound person or help with balance issues. Still, even with thorough training, that is one big dog.