NORTH CANTON, Ohio — From wading through security to tracking down your gate, air travel can be a stressful endeavor.
So it’s no surprise that travelers are getting by with a little help from their four-legged friends.
The Akron-Canton Airport is rolling out the red carpet for dogs, announcing a new pet relief area at the airport.
In 2017, the number of emotional support animals flying the friendly skies jumped by 60%. That took off even further in 2018, going up another 15%. At the same time, human passenger growth increased by just over 3%.
Emotional support animals provide comfort to help individuals with disabilities such as anxiety or depression by providing comfort and support. Any animal can be an emotional support animal. Federal law does not require these animals to have any specific training and you do not have to be physically disabled to have an emotional support animal.
Pet relief animals are becoming more common at places like airports and Akron-Canton officials say having a dedicated space could attract more frequent fliers.
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