The
government estimates that 2 million pets fly annually on commercial
flights. Airlines allow smaller pets to fit under the seats in portable
kennels where they are the responsibility of their owners, while larger
pets are placed in the cargo holds, where they are vulnerable to extreme
cold, heat, lack of cabin pressure, and the loud noises from plane
engines.
There has been plenty of controversy between The American Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and the airline industry
regarding the tabulation, or should we say the acknowledgement, of
how many household pets are killed, injured and lost in cargo holds
every year. The ASPCA estimates that 5,000 household pets were injured,
killed or lost in transit since the late 90’s. The airlines
concur with one another that this number is much too high. Aside from
the tussle over statistics, no one denies that accidents do occur
in the bellies of planes.
Since mid-June
of this year, thanks to efforts of the ASPCA, airlines, after much
resistance, are required by Congress under the “Safe Air Transport
for Animals Act” to report how many household pets are killed,
lost or injured in transit. Airlines are now being held accountable
for animal life.
Now that airlines are being held responsible, we as “parents”
should hold up our end of the bargain and make sure our pets are transported
as safely and as comfortably as possible.
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If driving or leaving your pet behind isn’t an option and you
must transport your pet by air, the Humane Society of the United States
and the ASPCA have a few suggestions and tips to make sure your pet
gets from point A to point B safely.
1. Before flying, take your pet to the vet for a checkup. This
especially applies to pug-nosed pets such as the Bulldog, Persian
or Pekingese. Because of their short nasal passages, being in a cargo
hold can cause them to be more vulnerable to the deprivation of oxygen.
2. If you’ve never flown with your pet before, check
with your airline first before taking your pet to the airport. Health
certificates are often required and you need to know what kind of
crate to use to store your pet.
3. Book a direct flight if you can; it’s shorter and
there’s less of a chance of your pet being lost in transit during
a layover.
4. Don’t feed
your pet anything during the eight hours prior to departure, though
they should have continuous access to water. It’s a good idea to
freeze your pets water so it won’t spill during loading but will
melt by the time your pet gets thirsty. |
5.
Refrain from giving your pet any tranquilizers. While it seems more
humane, tranquilizers decrease their ability to regulate temperature,
hot or cold.
6. Make sure your pet is wearing a collar with an ID tag noting
your destination, much like your baggage tags, in case he escapes
or gets lost in transit.
7. If you have a small pet, make sure that your kennel will
fit under the seat, and that it meets the airline size specifications.
Measure it before your the flight, because if it won’t fit,
your pet will have to be placed in the cargo hold. If you have large
pet, make sure your shipping crate is large enough for your pet to
stand, sit and change positions comfortably. Information is available
at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
8. Write “Live Animal” in big letters on the side
and the top of the crate and draw arrows to show the upright position.
On the top of the crate, write name, address, telephone number, and
the pet’s destination.
9. Line the crate bottom with absorbent bedding in case your
pet has a toilet accident.
10. Give your pet a big hug and kiss before storing him or
her to let them know you care!
If we are asking for
the airlines to do their part, we as owners must do ours. Let’s
keep our pets safe and do our best to make sure they live long and
joyous lives!
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