Important Article for those who fly with their Pets

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Airlines Must Start Tallying Pet Casualties

Injury and Death Number Previously Unreported

By LESLIE MILLER, AP

 

WASHINGTON (June 3) - 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.

 

When Sarah Stano's husband was transferred from Portland, Ore., to Greensboro,

N.C., she chose Delta Airlines to fly them there because it was the only carrier

that would let her carry her three cats in the cabin.

 

But at the airport she discovered one of the containers was too big to fit under

the seat. Hereford, a fluffy white cat with black spots, had to go in the cargo

hold.

 

" I'll never forget the look he gave me when they took him away, " Stano said.

 

When Stano and her two children arrived late at night in Greensboro, they found

out Hereford had died from either cold or lack of cabin pressure. " We were

really kind of devastated about the whole thing, " Stano said.

 

Stano sued Delta and reached an undisclosed settlement.

 

Delta spokeswoman Benet Wilson said the airline does its best to accommodate

pets but doesn't comment on individual cases.

 

Weisberg's organization pushed Congress to pass the law requiring the airlines

to report animal casualties. Supporters wanted it to cover animals shipped to

zoos and those used for research and breeding, as well as household pets, and to

require that cargo holds be temperature-controlled.

 

Airlines fought the effort, and lawmakers ended up approving a rule that

requires tallying injuries and deaths of household pets.

 

Jack Evans, spokesman for the Air Transport Association, said the requirement

could produce misleading information because the data will not include a

casualty rate. An airline that carries many pets may appear to have a worse

record than an airline that carries far fewer because it will have a higher

number of injuries and deaths, said Evans, whose organization represents major

airlines.

 

David Stempler, president of the Airline Travelers Association, said the new

requirement may make some airlines reluctant to carry animals.

 

" Be careful what you wish for, " Stempler said. " Some carriers might do what

Southwest does, which is not carry pets at all. "

 

Southwest spokeswoman Edna Ruano said the airline can't guarantee that animals

would be comfortable and safe because it doesn't have extra staff to take care

of them between flights. Like most airlines, Southwest does allow seeing-eye

dogs and other service animals in the cabin.

 

United Air Lines transports all types of animals, from household pets to

silverback gorillas and beluga whales. It even has awarded extra frequent flier

miles to people who bring their pets with them.

 

" A lot of our customers enjoy traveling with their pets, " said United

spokeswoman Robin Urbanski. As more hotel chains offer perks like pet massages

and dog walkers, more people are bringing their animal companions along on

trips, she said.

 

Travel Safety Tips

 

 

If you must transport your pet by air:

 

· Do not give your pet tranquilizers unless prescribed by a veterinarian.

 

· Don't feed your pet four to six hours before departure.

 

· Make sure your pet is wearing an ID tag with destination information.

 

· Book a direct flight.

 

· Avoid travel during busy travel times; your pet is more likely to be roughly

handled then.

 

· Tape a photograph of the pet on top of the crate in case it escapes.

 

See the Full List of Tips

 

 

 

 

 

06/03/05 13:33 EDT

 

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news

report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed

without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active

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