FLYING THE UNFRIEDNLY SKIES
"I wouldn't send my cockroach by air."
--Phyllis Wright, former Vice President, Humane Society of the United States
Q: I'm moving to Texas. Which will be less stressful for my dog, Luke, flying or driving?
--R.W., Iowa
A:Unless Luke is small enough to fly with you in the passenger cabin, drive him. Flying can be dangerous to an animal's health.
Floyd, a golden retriever, had to be euthanized after his brain cooked in the sweltering American Airlines cargo hold. His face and paws were blood from strugglying to get out of his crate. A judge ruled that Floyd was considered baggage. (HOwever, Floyd's person pursued the case and eventually won a judgement).
Most animals who perish on planes die from lack of oxygen or heatstroke. Sometimes many die on a single journey. Fifty-six puppies died on a TWA flight, 32 dogs died on a Delta flighty, 24 dogs died on a United flight, and four dogs died on an American Airlines flight.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture doesn't require fatality reports on animals in transit, so no one has any idea how many animals are dying. But almost every major airline has been cited and fined for violations of the Animal Welfare Act.
The airlines pay token fines, agree to show training films to their employess and continue business as usual. Jim Wippert, a retired Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) safety officer, told me that the air flow (and therefore oxygen) to baggage compartments is limited by design in order to prevent fires.
"When the oxygen is gone," said Jim, "so is the animal. It happens. My advice for carrying animals in aircraft is to carry them in the [passenger] cabin." Wippert also said that animals plying "cargo" usually are brought onto the ramps long before flight time and the high pitched engine noise and wind and squeal of the power plants drives them crazy. "I've looked into their crates," he says, "and seen their eyes rolling in terror."
The moral is, if animals can't fly in the cabin, drive them. Should circumstances ever force you to send an animal as cargo:
1) Choose a direct, nonstop flight.
2) Don't ship on a weekend or holiday.
3) Don't ship in heat or cold.
4) Ask your veterinarian about tranquilizing the animal; it may not be advisable as it interferes with the body's internal thrmostat.
5) Make sure the kennel is secure, with plenty of ventilation, a ridge around the outside so that air hold can't be blocked, and "Live Animal" and "This End Up" (with arrows) printed on its side and top.
6) Remove food and water six hours before the flight, but put ice cubes in the water dish. (Note from Naarah: this may be good for dogs, but check with your vet about animals with different metabolisms, such as ferrets, how soon you should remeove the food and water before you leave).
7) Give dogs a tiny drink and brisk walk just before boarding.
8) Make sure the kennel never sits on the ramp long.
9) Upon landing, claim your animal immediately.
10) Pray a lot.