Commercial Airlines Place Pets in Peril

Companion Animals Are Safer at Home, Warns Animal Welfare Institute

Dear Humanitarian:

Little did Karen Pascoe suspect, when she handed her two beloved cats over to American Airlines for a flight from New York to California in August, that it would be two months before she would see one of them again. Or that the reunion would be short-lived. According to an incident report filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT), baggage handlers stacked the two kennels on top of one another; the top kennel fell and her cat, Jack, escaped. When the missing cat finally fell through the ceiling inside a Customs office at the airport in October, he was hurt and badly dehydrated. Sadly, Jack later died from his injuries. (The Animal Welfare Institute is pressing for an investigation into this heartbreaking case.)

We wish we could tell you that this is the only tragedy of its kind that has occurred while companion animals were in the care and custody of an airline. But it is not. A few recent headlines: Delta Air Lines’ dead-dog problem (which relates stories of the escapes, injuries, and deaths of several dogs); Kitten dies after flying in cargo hold (of another Delta flight); Seven dogs dead after American Airlines flight. For the period June 2010 through April 2011, the DoT received reports from airlines documenting that 73 companions had died, 23 were injured, and 8 were lost.

With the holiday travel season upon us, the Animal Welfare Institute reminds all companion animal guardians of the danger of putting their pets on a plane. If you are planning to take your companion animal with you on a flight, and the animal will not fit under the passenger seat (and even if he/she does, make sure the airline allows it and has room), then, simply DON’T DO IT. Explore other travel options that will allow your pet to travel with you, or, if resources allow, look into Pet Airways. Otherwise, leave your companion animal home with a trusted sitter. You will miss one another to be sure; but at least he/she will be there when you return.

Visit our Air Transport webpage for more information about this issue. Wishing Happy - and safe! - Holidays to you and your companion animals!

Sincerely,

Nancy Blaney
Senior Federal Policy Advisor