Recent reports reveal that 10 animals were injured, killed or lost on U.S. airlines in May, according to a monthly government report. Six airlines reported incidents during the month, totaling four deaths, five injuries and one loss. Two injury incidents were blamed on the airline. The others were caused on inadequate kennels, natural causes and an attack by another animal.
It’s the first animal injury and death report since Congress passed a law several years ago requiring airline carriers to report such information. The U.S. Department of Transportation will also release monthly reports at http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/reports/atcr05.htm or view the PDF at http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/reports/2005/july/0507atcr.pdf.
The data offers consumers a resource to help decide which airlines to fly with their pets. “This is good news since pet owners can obtain vital information that will help them to decide what airlines to fly with their precious cargo.” According to California based animal behaviorist, Diana L. Guerrero.
The Department of Transportation estimates that nearly 2 million animals fly on commercial flights annually. Until these reports, no numbers on how many animals die, or are injured or lost during airline transport.
Outside estimates speculate about 5,000 incidents or more a year. If May’s report numbers remain consistent the totals would be lower.
Some animals travelers can be stowed under seats as long as the pets are housed in transport crates. Larger pets must travel in the plane’s belly where there is risk of injury from exposure to extreme temperatures or other cargo.
In the past animals were treated like luggage. The campaign for federal reporting began after a Brooklyn, NY, resident’s (Barbara Listenik) dog was injured. The canine’s cage smashed open over ten years ago. The escaped animal ran loose on the tarmac at New York’s LaGuardia Airport and disappeared for more than six weeks.
In a report by Chris Walsh (distributed by Scripps Howard News Service) Listenik said,
“I walked up to a broken, bloody crate, and they told me to fill out a baggage claim form,” Listenik said. “I was completely flabbergasted by that. So I wrote a bill that said animal deaths and injuries should be reported to the public so people know which airline has the best record for flying animals.”
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