Opinion

Photo: Emotional support turkey looks unruffled in SFO security line

This turkey visited SFO last week as a woman's companion animal. This turkey visited SFO last week as a woman's companion animal. Photo: Contributed Photo Photo: Contributed Photo Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Photo: Emotional support turkey looks unruffled in SFO security line 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

This is one of the most unusual things I've ever seen. This is a turkey going through security at SFO last week.

This turkey is a comfort animal for a woman who lost her husband. The turkey is her companion. She even says that she sleeps with it at night. I had no idea.

You can bring a comfort animal on board as long as you have the proper documentation from a mental health professional.

There are rules though. Once on board the animal can't walk through the cabin. It also can't block the aisles or take up seats near emergency exits.

It would be easy here to make fun of the woman. But I've seen enough things in my lifetime to realize that what may seem bizarre to me, is perfectly normal for someone else.

And think about this: If you happened to be the passenger next to that turkey, you'd sure have a great story to tell all your friends.

Frank Somerville is a contributor to SFGATE and anchors the 5, 6, and 10 p.m. news on KTVU.