Airlines to Begin Tallying Pet Casualties

[xultar]

Airlines to Begin Tallying Pet Casualties
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050603/ap_on_re_us/pets_on_planes
By LESLIE MILLER, Associated Press Writer 58 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Plenty of vacation guides list camps that allow dogs or rank pet-friendly hotels, but until now there's been no way to know which airlines are safest for four-legged travelers.

That's about to change. Starting June 15, airlines must report how many pets are killed, lost or injured on their flights.

The government estimates 2 million animals fly commercially every year. Many airlines allow small pets to travel in portable kennels under seats, where the owners are responsible for their safety. Larger pets travel in cargo holds, where they can be exposed to extreme heat or cold and loud noises from plane engines.

Nobody knows how many pets are killed or injured. Lisa Weisberg, spokeswoman for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, suggested 1 percent, which would mean 20,000 animals per year. The airlines say that's far too high.

But no one disputes that accidents do happen.

[Modem Butterfly]

1. It's cruel to fly an animal unless absolutely necessary

Period.

[xultar]

4. Are you kidding? I take my Chihuahua everywhere. He loves flying

of course he's in his carrier underthe seat but none the less...here he is @ my client's site in OP, KS

Onyx loves airports, hotels, offices, even going to dinner in hotels. They let him sit @ the table in the chair and steam him carrots to go in his dog food.

[Modem Butterfly]

5. Okay, how about this:

It's cruel to fly pets in the cargo hold unless absolutely necessary.

Edited to add: Man, that is one pissed off little dog glaring at the camera. You sure he likes to fly? :)

[xultar]

7. He had just come from a Change Management Team meeting..we were all

pissed by the end.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Some airlines won't carry pets in the cargo compartment in hot weather.

This is because they sometimes have to wait around on the ground and it gets too hot on the ramp or in the cargo hold before the airplane takes off. So even though they have employees who are designated to look after animals, and procedures for caring for them, and even though the crews are specifically notified if animals on board, in hot weather they just won't take pets. In any event, everyone who wants to ship a pet should check the airline's rules, and if your pet is small enough, try to get him/her in the cabin with you.

[purr]

3. When I got my Sphynx off of the breeder

they shipped her via the cabin. She wasnt in a cargo hold and came in August. Sure I paid more for this, but I felt MUCH better.

[xultar]

6. There is a small pressurized cabin where they ship pets. No pets go

in the cargo hold, they aren't pressurized.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. Not exactly.

All aircraft cargo compartments are pressurized. The problem is that some of them are not heated, and it gets really cold at 36,000 feet. So the baggage handlers have to be sure they put the animals in the cargo compartment that is heated. For example, the Airbus A320 has two cargo compartments; the aft one is both pressurized and heated, and animals have to go in that one. The forward compartment is also pressurized, but it is not heated. The risks of shipping animals in cargo, once the plane is airborne, is that the cargo heating system will fail (which is very rare), or possibly that the animal will escape from its carrier.

[purr]

She had an actual SEAT on the plane is what I was trying

to say.

[gaspee]

9. I always fly my pets

Delta. Delta isn't all that great for humans in the leg room department, but they have a really good pet flying program.

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I fly one or two dogs a couple of times a year, usually for rescue, and puppies every so often.

[purr]

10. I just adopted a new Sphynx from a rescue organization!!

He'll be coming via a plane. I'm so excited :)

[BlackVelvetElvis]

17. What a cutie!

Welcome to DU gaspee.

[xultar]

19. Kute Pup!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. Some years ago I was flying to AMS on KLM and a cat escaped

from its carrier in the passenger cabin. The flight attendants were walking up and down the aisle with saucers of milk, calling "Here, kitty, kitty." They finally caught the cat, but it took awhile.

[MuseRider]

12. Our Lab flew from

his breeder to our state as an 12 week old puppy. I was really worried about it but the breeder had assured us he would be fine, that she had never had a problem. I picked him up and opened up the container and the happiest puppy came romping out. I don't know, he did not seem in any way concerned about the entire affair but she had been preparing him for it. :shrug:

I will be interested to see this report because if it is dangerous for them I will not do it again.

[xultar]

13. There is a pet airline called Companion Air.

[MuseRider]

14. Really?

I had no idea. I will look into that. BTW, next time you are in OP let us all know you are coming. Would love to drive over and go to dinner and drinks or something.

[xultar]

18. Will do!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

20. I looked at their web site -- they aren't up and running yet.

It's not an actual airline, but an air charter service that will be offering transportation for pets with their people. They will be using Pilatus P-12 airplanes, which are 6-8 passenger single-engine turboprop planes, not big jets like the airlines use. It looks like a nifty service, though their proposed fares will be much higher than the airlines charge (as you might expect for a charter service). Check 'em out, http://www.companionair.com

[Ladyhawk]

15. You mean they haven't been????

That scares me. Gabby could probably fit in an under-the-seat carrier. Head room might be a little cramped, but it would be better than the cargo hold.

[Branjor]

16. Once, a long time ago.....

I saw a little dog running on the field at O'Hare Airport. Our taxiing plane stopped for him. Airport employees were in hot pursuit. I don't know if they managed to catch him. This was in the early 80s.