What started out as a joke has become a nearly decade-long stint as an officially registered emotional support animal for Tiny, a massive Texas longhorn steer.
“He’s probably a little over a ton,” Tiny’s owner, Alex Wakal of Zephyr, Texas, told Cowboy State Daily, when asked about the size of Tiny, who is about 10 ½ years old.
Wakal has a card proving Tiny’s status since 2016 as a registered emotional support animal (ESA).
It’s the only proof of Tiny’s official role. A vest identifying him as an ESA wasn’t available.
“They couldn’t find a vest big enough for him,” Wakal said.
‘Crock Of Crap’
Wakal loves Tiny and the other longhorns that he keeps at his place. But he doesn’t actually lean on the steer for emotional support.
Instead, he sent in the application and a $45 fee into one of the Texas companies that registers ESAs only as a joke, just to see what would happen.
“I was so annoyed by the whole emotional support animal crock of crap. So, I thought, ‘Let’s see just how stupid they are,’” he said.
Since his wife has red hair, Wakal even went so far as to send in a photo of an orangutan under her name with the application.
“After all, a redhead is a redhead, right?” he said.
And yet, despite his best attempts to make the whole thing an absurd prank, Tiny was registered, and Wakal was issued an ID card for his ESA longhorn.
The situation in Texas mirrors that in Wyoming, where legislators are working on a bill that would, among other things, distinguish between highly-trained service dogs and “fluffy dog” pets used as ESAs.
Tiny, A 2,000-Pound Texas Longhorn Is An Officially Registered Emotional Support Animal (Courtesy: Alex Wakal)
Dogs Pooping In The Aisles
Wakal owns Dreadnaught Industries, a shooting range and gun shop.
He’s also a retired Air Force veteran, so he knows the value of trained service animals. He’s seen how service dogs have helped fellow veterans with disabilities.
Those dogs go through months of training that can cost thousands of dollars.
The Wyoming legislative bill would allow for certified service dogs to be trained in public places where pets or “emotional support” animals might not be allowed.
In Texas, some people abuse the privilege of service or support animals being allowed in public places by letting their ill-behaved pets wreak havoc, Wakal said.
“I saw it everywhere. But what really drove it (the decision to register Tiny as an ESA) was seeing dogs fighting at gun shows,” Wakal said.
“If your dog is pooping in the middle of the aisle at KMart, that’s not a service animal,” he added.
‘They Don’t Make Carrying Crates Big Enough’
As for Tiny, Wakal said, the ESA status means he could bring his steer into a KMart, if he wanted to.
But Zephyr is a “mighty metropolis of 134 people,” with no big-box stores anywhere nearby, he said.
And Tiny “is not a really big trailer fan,” he added.
Tiny is mellow, at least around his owners, but Wakal isn’t sure how he’d handle being stuck in a crowded store.
“He’s pretty relaxed, but I don’t think he’d be ok with that,” he said.
He also joked that “they don’t make carrying crates big enough” for Tiny to fly on a commercial passenger jet, as some ESAs do.
So, Tiny enjoys the good life on his owners’ property and loves getting scratched behind his ears.
Tiny, A 2,000-Pound Texas Longhorn Is An Officially Registered Emotional Support Animal (Courtesy: Alex Wakal) 
Tiny, A 2,000-Pound Texas Longhorn Is An Officially Registered Emotional Support Animal (Courtesy: Alex Wakal)
‘I’m Almost A Rancher’
Wakal said that when he retired from the Air Force and moved out to his property, he wanted to keep some livestock around but had no illusions about becoming a cattle rancher.
He looked for cattle breeds that are easy to take care of, and longhorns fit the bill.
Tiny is among a herd of 14-15 longhorns that Wakal and his wife keep, mostly as a hobby.
“I’m almost a rancher,” he said.
Longhorns are naturally independent. And, if left alone out on the range, not too friendly toward people.
“Longhorns are highly intelligent, and they’re very curious,” Wakal said.
If they’re around particular people, they can become “just like big dogs” and love affection, he added.
“Especially if you play with them a lot, they like people,” he said. “If they associate you with scratches and treats, you’re fine.”
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
