Emotional support pets: experts warn of animal welfare risk

Exclusive: Focus on human needs must not result in impact on animals being overlooked, say researchers

Taking a pet everywhere for emotional support, from aeroplanes to the daily shop, may be all the rage, but experts have warned animal welfare is at risk of being overlooked.

The use of emotional support animals has boomed in recent years, with myriad cases hitting the headlines, from the peacock denied a seat on a United Airlines plane, to the cat banned from Sainsbury's.