Is It Safe To Check-In Your Animal Friend?

Animals aren’t programmed to travel by air, yet at times they’re left with no choice.

- Neha Gupta Kapoor 

If it’s your car, you’re free to take your pet with you on a road trip of your own accord, without much ado, ensuring its comfort at all times. However, when choosing alternative modes of transport, one must understand that even though some airlines and trains allow pets on-board, they weren’t built with them in mind.

Earlier this year in April, the internet was outraged at the demise of Simon, the 90cm (three-foot) giant bunny rabbit. Before boarding the flight, Simon had undergone a thorough check-up and received a healthy chit from his vet. Hence, the “mysterious” death of this animal came as a shock to many. To date the cause of Simon’s death remains unknown.

A couple of months prior to this incident, United Airlines was under the scanner for accidentally killing Janet Sinclair’s six-year old Bengal cat and five-year-old greyhound due to negligence. Sinclair was assured that her pets would be taken care of at all times during the journey from California to Massachusetts, including the layover at Houston.

However, on arriving at her final destination, she was mortified to see both animals’ cages covered in blood, faeces and vomit. The cat didn’t survive the journey, and the dog was critical. Sinclair says she had declined compensation offered by United. Later, she set up a Facebook page — United Airlines Almost Killed My Greyhound. To this day pet parents post their tragic stories there.

ARE AIRLINES SAFE FOR ANIMALS?