I was wondering when this story would show up here although the details are somewhat different.
It first appeared on FlyerTalk.com but according to the post there the goose originated out of Milwaukee (MKE) and not the Twin Cities (MSP).
Details not agreeing aside, the fact that even a "domesticated" goose could be considered an "emotional assistance" animal is just plain absurd. The lengths people will go to fly with pets without paying for them is ridiculous. Apparently all one needs to do is have a psychiatrist or psychologist deem it necessary and a vet to sign off on the paperwork and your average household pet with not training whatsoever can travel with the same status as a highly trained seeing eye dog, mobility assistance dog or one trained to assist the deaf and hard of hearing. In other words legitimate service animals.
I realize there are people with a fear of flying, claustrophobia, agoraphobia and other challenges however if one cannot "survive" without one's pet at their side constantly for the duration of a trans-continental flight then one needs to either medicate one's self accordingly or consider an alternate mode of transportation.
I recall a flight I was on from LAX to Newark with a woman who had what I call a "pocketbook dog" with her. When I questioned the flight attendant why the dog wasn't in a kennel she rolled her eyes and said, in an appropriately sarcastic tone, "It's an emotional and medical assistance dog." She was seated across the aisle from me in first class and once the meal service was over she made a point of telling everyone how the dog can detect if she's about to have a seizure.
Now I can see how that would be helpful if she were driving a car or at the grocery store. Pull the car over and call 911 or sit down on the floor and alert a store employee. How in the hell would it make a difference at 35,000 feet? Simply alert the flight crew that she sometimes has seizures and if she starts to have one the crew would be trained how to handle it. Having the dog there to give a "two minute warning"" isn't going to change anything. You're still in a tube and seated and belted into an aircraft seat. You aren't going to cross the median and cause a freeway pile-up!
It's out of hand and the airlines need to stand up to these "fragile" people. Unfortunately their hands are tied by laws that pander to those with"special needs." Don't complain to the airline but write a letter to your Senators and House representative instead.