http://www.mastiff-forum.com/ News articles pertaining to the Mastiff breeds en Mon, 06 Sep 2010 10:38:48 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.mastiff-forum.com/images/misc/rss.png http://www.mastiff-forum.com/ http://www.mastiff-forum.com/showthread.php/1001-Humane-groups-demand-probe-into-seven-puppy-deaths-on-American-Airlines?goto=newpost Tue, 10 Aug 2010 04:57:48 GMT Humane groups demand probe into seven puppy deaths on American Airlines August 8, 9:57 PMPet Rescue ExaminerCheryl Hanna The Animal Defense Fund... Humane groups demand probe into seven puppy deaths on American Airlines
August 8, 9:57 PMPet Rescue ExaminerCheryl Hanna

The Animal Defense Fund and the Humane Society of the United States are asking for an investigation by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) after seven out of fourteen puppies died after American Airlines Flight 851. The flight was to leave Tulsa (Okla) at 6:30 AM, but its departure was delayed by storms in Chicago.

The plane sat on the tarmac where it was delayed one hour, and the temperature according to the National Weather Service was 86 degrees at that time. Expected highs in Tulsa were over 100 degrees.

The policy of American Airlines is to restrict flying of pets in the cargo hold when the temperature is over 85 degrees.

When the plane arrived at O'Hare International Airport at 8:54AM, baggage handlers off-loaded the puppies, and were getting ready to re-board them to their connecting flights when personnel observed the puppies to be extremely lethargic. They tried to cool the puppies down, and the puppies were then taken to a veterinarian. Five puppies died initially, and two died later.

" If these puppies died because of the hot conditions in the cargo hold, then this would be a violation of the Animal Welfare Act - the suffering that these animals may have endured before they died is difficult to imagine - defenseless puppies (probably) trapped inside a sweltering cargo hold," stated the HSUS.

In 1994, Delta Airlines was fined $140,000 by the USDA for failing to provide animals " humane transportation" under the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act when 32 puppies died after being transported in the cargo hold of a Delta Boeing. Circumstances were similar to this incident; the flight was delayed and of the 52 animals that survived the flight, oxygen deprivation and stress were documented.

It is strongly recommended that animal owners take careful precautions when transporting animals in the cargo holds of airplanes, especially during the summer months. Always try to fly direct, and insist your pet be removed from the plane if the flight is delayed. Place ice-cubes in a plastic baggie, and put them in your pet's carrier so he has cool water to stay hydrated during the flight. Make sure you see your pet's cage loaded onto the plane, and make sure your pet is off-loaded as soon as the plane is safely at the gate.

American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith is calling for a complete and thorough investigation and is awaiting the results of the necropsy.

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