Emotional Support Chickens Are Now A Thing

You may have heard of emotional support dogs. Now, let me introduce you to emotional support chickens.

A disabled Marine named Luke Villotti was recently profiled by the Chicago Tribune, which reported on the ongoing dispute with neighbors over his having 20 chickens in the backyard. The neighbors are annoyed, but the 25-year-old has a letter from his Department of Veterans Affairs counselor saying that chickens can indeed be considered “support animals.”

“They are very therapeutic,” Luke Vilotti told the Chicago Tribune. “They take care of us and we take care of them.”

I watched the video of him petting a chicken and talking about it as if it were a dog. I love my dogs, but I can’t say I really understand the idea of a chicken as taking on a similar role. But who the hell am I to judge?

Read the full story, and then let me know your thoughts in the comments.

 

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Paul Szoldra was the Editor in Chief of Task & Purpose from October 2018 until August 2022. Since joining T&P, he has led a talented team of writers, editors, and creators who produce military journalism reaching millions of readers each month. He also founded and edits Duffel Blog, an influential satirical newsletter for the military.