4 pets died on flights in May, 1st monthly U.S. report says

[question everything]

4 pets died on flights in May, 1st monthly U.S. report says

ASSOCIATED PRESS

July 8, 2005

WASHINGTON – A cat named Tango and an overweight black Lab mix named Cave were among the four pets that died on commercial airline flights in May, according to the government's first monthly report on such incidents.

The figures released yesterday by the Transportation Department bolsters airlines' claims that the vast majority of animals survive flying without a problem. Some animal rights advocates had suggested that as many as 20,000 pets die in airliners every year.

Six U.S. airlines reported a total of 10 incidents, including five cases in which a pet was injured and one in which a pet was lost. More than 2 million pets and other animals are carried by airlines every year in the U.S.

(snip)

Tango, an Abyssinian cat, was attacked and killed in the cargo hold by a dog that escaped from his kennel. Alaska Airlines found that the dog was placed in a kennel not strong enough to hold him. The dog's owner was taken into police custody and banned from the airline for a year. The dog was banned permanently.


Find this article at:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050708/news_1n8petplane.html

[Hayabusa]

1. *shakes head*

Oh as a cat lover that makes my blood boil!

[newyawker99]

22. Hi Hayabusa!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[BooScout]

2. Thank You.....

I have to fly later this year with my blind and diabetic dog to the UK. I have been dreading putting her on a flight and want to closely watch these statistics over the next few months ....especially which airlines having the most incidents. I really wish I could fly with her in the cabin. I swear I sould spring for a first class seat for her.

[question everything]

3. Depends on her size

Twice in the last six months in met people who flew with their dogs in a special bag that can fit under the seat.

I sat next to one of them on a flight from Amsterdam and my neighbor on occasions had the bag on her lap so that we could both pat the dog on the head. Also has to be a quiet dog that will not bark or whine and upset the other passengers, I suppose.

A sedative may help. If she is not too big you may want to look into this.

[BooScout]

5. Not necessarily......

No dog can fly in the cabin into the UK. They must fly cargo. This is regardless of size.

I don't even have the option of flying her into France and then taking a ferry or the chunnel into the UK because she is 40 pounds and would have to fly cargo anywhere, anyplace. :-(

Vets do not recommend giving a sedative to any dog that is going to fly. It could cause a lot of problems.

I do thank you for your post though. I plan on keeping a very close eye on the stats.

[Mutley]

8. Can you do that?

If I HAD to fly with my dog, I would want to do everything possible to keep from having to put her in the cargo hold.

[BooScout]

11. No......

You would think the airlines would do anything for a full fare client but nooooo.....they discriminate against dogs. ;-)

[Mutley]

13. well that sucks.

I guess I'll have to charter my own jet... NOT! That would be nice, though.

[question everything]

18. Yes, if less than 15 lbs, but no to the UK (or Hawaii, Hong Kong)

at least, on Northwest Airlines - the one that I flew from Amsterdam, also from New York LGA:

Carry-On
Small dogs, cats, and household birds may travel as carry-on luggage, in addition to the carry-on allowance for your flight. Click here to obtain the cost for pet transportation. The animal must be less than 15 pounds (with kennel), and must fit comfortably in a kennel placed under the seat.

Guidelines to take your pet on board the aircraft are as follows:

* Inform Northwest when you make your reservation that you will be bringing an animal in addition to your carry-on luggage. Call Northwest at least 24 hours prior to your flight to confirm your pet is traveling with you.
* Restrictions: Northwest does not allow pets in cabin to several destinations, including Hawaii, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong. Aircraft restrictions that limit pets in cabin (including pets in World Business Class on A330 aircraft) and a limit to the number of animals onboard individual flights also apply.
* Your pet must be in an approved Carry-on kennel when you check in (maximum kennel size is 17" x 12.3" x 8"). In addition to standard Carry-on kennels, Northwest permits soft-sided animal carriers for animals traveling in the passenger cabin. Kennels are available through pet supply shops and a limited supply at select Northwest stations. Click here for Northwest kennel pricing.
* Northwest Airlines reserves the right to access a $20 gate processing fee for pets not disclosed prior to boarding. To avoid this additional fee please dislcose all pet-in-cabin requests prior to travel at 1-800-225-2525 or at the ticket counter at least one hour prior to departure for domestic flights, 2 hours for international flights.


http://www.nwa.com/services/shipping/cargo/products/ppet2.shtml

[amazona]

20. why don't you fly with her in the cabin

I've seen it on Northwest many times. They fly to U.K. I bet others do as well. Enjoy your trip! If the dog can fit in a carrier that fits under the seat ahead of you, something could be arranged. There might be a fee, not sure, but people do it.

On Edit--OK, I see for some reason it's the UK that doesn't allow the dogs in cabins. Too bad. It sounds like me that the odds are excellent for your pet's safety in cargo hold, however.

[fairfaxvadem]

4. My one experience was fine.

I flew my cat from San Fran to Dulles in June years ago. My sister put him on the flight there and I picked him up at Dulles. The United people were extremely nice and he arrived AOK, thank goodness.

But I sure hate hearing about these incidents. Such carelessness.

[GeekMonkey]

6. i hate when bad things happen to cats

dogs I am less concerned about

[undeterred]

7. I talked to a pilot about this

and she told me that most of the problems with pets are related to temperature- too hot or too cold in cargo. I knew someone whose dog was inexplicably soaking wet after a flight from Chicago to Little Rock. I would do as much advance research on this as possible.

[ConfuZed]

9. They shouldnt allow pets on planes

If someone has to leave for an extended amount of time they should leave their animals with a relative or at a pet "daycare" center :)

[BooScout]

10. Easier said than done in some cases.......

In our case, we are moving permanently to the UK. No one I know will take a blind and diabetic dog that requires 2 shots of insulin daily and has vet bills often exceeding $500 a month (Not that I would want to give her up anyway) My dog is otherwise healthy and in no pain and I am not going to have her put to sleep as some people have suggested to me.

[DemoTex]

12. As a retired airline pilot, I have some free advice.

Ship your pets on the airlines only as a last resort. Never ship a pet gratuitously or merely for convenience. I cannot imagine a scenario where I would put my dear dogs on an airline. In fact, I may be driving Sirius to Washington, DC, soon to see a specialist for his hemangiosarcoma.

If you must ship your pet, avoid the summer months. Many airlines now have embargoes against pet travel during warm weather months. I would avoid bitter cold weather also. Once airborne, cargo compartments share the same environmental system with the passenger cabin and are, generally speaking, the same temperature as the cabin (some older aircraft are exceptions, especially the Boeing 727 with its infamous "kill-the-dog-switch").

Do not ship your pet unless you fly on the same flight. The pet needs an advocate on board the aircraft. If the flight diverts for a mechanical problem, the crew might not know that a pet is in the cargo compartment. If you are on board you will tell the crew and you will insist that the pet be removed to safe shelter if a quick departure cannot be assured. Call 911 on your cell phone if the airline gives you any shit. They would much rather deal with your pet than deal with the law, any day.

Take only non-stop flights when traveling with a pet, even if it means an inconvenient drive to a major hub airport. The last thing you want is your pet going through baggage sort at a hub airport as you change gates and airplanes for the continuation of your journey. Remember, your pet is traveling basically as checked baggage.

Lastly, when you board the flight tell the flight attendants that your pet is supposed to be in the cargo compartment. Politely ask that one of the pilots go on the ramp and check on the pet. I was always glad to do that. Also, if I saw a pet being loaded I would get the I/D information off the kennel cage and page that passenger to the cockpit during boarding to report to them on their pet. Some pilots (the real pet-lovers) will do that without being asked. I can tell you that you have a 99.9% chance of finding a sympathetic pilot who will check on your pet for you. It never hurts to ask. That same pilot might remember the pet during an emergency evacuation and direct rescuers to the cargo compartment.

Sirius


Nick-Nick

[The Stranger]

14. Excellent advice.

[DemoTex]

15. Someday maybe someone will start a thread on UAMs on the airlines.

UAMs = Unaccompanied Minors. There is another common practice that is fraught with peril!

[KansDem]

17. That might be a good idea...

My sister is constantly trying to get me to send my 13-year old daughter out to her alone (Kansas to California). I not keen on the idea, but she keeps insisting that it's perfectly safe, especially if the flight is one-way.

She's been after me for some years but the idea still doesn't appeal to me.

Afterthought: I will say that my daughter was about 8 or 9 when she first suggested it...and it seemed even less appropriate then as it does now.

[leftchick]

21. your Sirius is a doll baby!

He looks so much like my Satch I had as a child.

:)

[KansDem]

16. I don't understand this...

Tango, an Abyssinian cat, was attacked and killed in the cargo hold by a dog that escaped from his kennel. Alaska Airlines found that the dog was placed in a kennel not strong enough to hold him. The dog's owner was taken into police custody and banned from the airline for a year. The dog was banned permanently.

As an owner of two cats, I can sympathize with Tango's owner, but why ban the dog's owner. Wasn't the dog place in a kennel by airline employees? Why take the dog's owner into "police custody" if it appears, and I read the article, he had no doing in how the dog was placed in the hold?

[question everything]

19. I think that the owner provides the kennel

but maybe I am wrong. Never had to ship a pet

[Neecy]

23. the owner does provide the kennel...

However, whoever checked the kennel should have examined it prior to acceptance to see how sturdy it was. The airline agent was just as responsible, IMO.

Here's some more advice from a 20-year passenger service vet:

-if you have to travel with your pet, avoid the hottest summer months. Many times these kennels are kept outdoors airside in extreme heat waiting for loading. This is important if you have an older house dog - I've seen some that haven't handled it very well.

-check with your vet prior to departure for tranquilizers. The separation/loading process can be traumatic (a few drops of Benadryl works well, if you don't want to spring for the vet bill).

One of the worst days in my airline career came on a day I was assigned to baggage service, and got a notification to tell an incoming passenger that her dog expired enroute. I went into the claim area and saw a woman standing there, expectantly holding a leash, looking happy, and I just wanted to melt into the floor. Not a fun thing to do.

[DemoTex]

25. Neecy adds to what I said.

Listen to the DU airline people. Please! Good advice.

[NC Beach Girl]

24. the owner provides the kennel

When I shipped my dogs on an airline a few years ago, I had to provide the kennels and it was my responsibility that they be the right size and strength for them. There was lots of paperwork about liability and whatnot to sign...