Airlines Must Begin Tallying Pet Casualties

[hldavis]

I read an article today on the local news web site. That later this month airlines must report how many pets are killed, lost and or injured on thier flights. the government estimates 2 million animals fly commerical each year. It's about time they do something about this. My mom lost one of her cats due to poor airline maintenance.

 

[Rufust]

That is so scary! I personally do not like to fly and I think it is too much for a pet to handle. This is just my opinion as I know many people do this, but I would never put one of my pets or have a new puppy shipped on an airplane. I can't imagine what that does to a puppy, so young and scared to be without littermates anyway. I'm glad the airlines are going to acknowledge that there is a problem here though.

 

[myboyjackson]

Unfortunatley, I had no other choice but to have a dog flown here to me. I check everywhere I could to get a boxer. Jackson was pretty shook up when we got him, the poor little thing. He was shaking so much. I think we have made it up to him by now.......between all of the treats, kisses, hugs, walks and games of ball, he is spoiled rotten. I'd say he has forgotten most of that trip!! I doubt that I would do it again.....and I wouldn't recommend it either.

 

[Ritzy57]

We have never owned a dog small enough to fit under a seat, in a carrier. So, we have never flown with one of our dogs.
We will NOT have a dog put in baggage!!!
The air in the baggage compartment is not regulated the same as in the cabin. If they are going to carry pets, they should have the temp. and pressure the same in baggage as in the cabin. This is living cargo, NOT luggage!
We would rather drive, than subject ANY animal to a ride in the baggage compartment of a plane.

 

[myboyjake]

My BF is a pilot and we agree that we will never put Jake on a flight. He says he always feels bad for them. It's such a scary situation. I told him we should buy a small airplane and start our own busines transporting animals.

 

[Erica&Riley]

I have to say...I totally agree with all of you when it comes to transporting animals below in the cargo deck! I could never do that. However, I did fly with my cat around Christmas time with me as a carry-on piece and she did fine! I was afraid at first for her flying but she was a brave girl and came through famously. For anyone able to fly with their boxers (as pups obviously) on-board, its definitely not a bad thought.

 

[vichy]

Animals are always carried in the forward cargo compartment which is heated and should have approximately the same temprature as the cabin. It has happened accidents where pilots by making a fault has shut of the heater in that compartment as it is regulated from cockpit. That scares me as I know that we one day have to put Buster on a plane when we shall bring him back to Sweden.... There is no way I would leave him here in Hong Kong!!!!!

I wish I had the money to rent my own plane =)!!!! Then I could let Buster run around in the cabin....I´ll just have to become rich and famous first.

 

[Clover's Mom]

Just so everyone know, the cargo hold that the animals fly in has the same air pressure as the cabin we humans fly in. The pilot also has control of the temp there. I flew with Clover over Christmas, and we'll we were both stressed out, she came through with flying colors. The most stressful of it all was waiting in the ticket line, then for our next flight. I just made sure I had a seat next to the loading area, was the last one to board, did my best to talk to every pilot who was flying my plane, if I couldn't catch them before they boarded, I talked to the agent, who I made verify Clover was on the plane before I boarded, then I would get in line, when I got onto the plane, I would poke my head in the cockpit and hand them a letter stating what seat I was on, that I had a live animal on board who was like my child, and I would appreciate it if they could please double check to make sure she was in the correct cargo hold, and to keep the temp and air pressure like it was here in the cabin. I also included her picture, her departing and arrival information, contact numbers and addresses for her breeder, vet, and contacts at her departing and arrival destintation. On her kennel, I had extra food and water sports top bottle, plus herbal supplements to help with axinety, along with the same type of note, but adding in no one, except for the contacts or me , was authorized to open her kennel at anytime. And to please let the pilot know when she was on board. I made them really cute notes. I also brought brownies for the pilots, plus had cookies taped for the loaders. At my layover I made sure I had time to get her and walk her...give her more water, and another kong stuff with peanut butter. Oh yeah, her kennel had all her info as well, with permeant maker on the sides. I think I was more stressed than she. This is funny now but not at the time, she got a chance to ride on the luggage carasole(sp) at our destintation...she was so cute and so well behaved. One of the pilots even went down to the cargo area and took her picture. YOu just have to be on the ball, I let everyone know there was a live animal on board.

 

[haleyandmark]

You know ... I always wondered why when a plane goes down, you hear all about the people who died in the crash, but never the animals. I guess that was just too sensitive of a subject to be touched upon on regular news coverage?

Clovers Mom, thats awesome that you did all that for your furbaby! I would've been a nervous wreck as well and it sounds like you did every single thing possible to prevent anything bad from happening! I still don't know if I could ever have Asia on a plane where shes not in my plain view ... the thought of that just scares me, but I am a chicken when it comes to taking chances with her being somewhere I'm not! :rolleyes: Maybe one day ...