Chris Gain Weisbecker knows the stress of flying with her pets. In the
past decade or so, she has flown her cat and ferret on three international flights. Each time, the stress and cost of doing so were a bit overwhelming.
“The first time, we flew from Oklahoma to Brussels, Belgium. I had a ferret and a cat, and we had to ship them through a shipping company. We had to send them a day ahead to Dallas and then meet up with them the next day in New Jersey,” Weisbecker said. “It was very stressful. My cat didn’t use the bathroom in two-and-a-half days, and when we finally got to the small apartment overseas, she literally urinated for three minutes straight.”
Although Weisbecker’s furry companions made the flights with no injuries, other pets aren’t so lucky when flying. Between 2010 and 2020, more than 250 animal passengers died during or immediately after airline travel. In addition, more than 170 sustained injuries as a result of airline transport, and airlines lost 20 animals altogether.
In an age when travel is essential and more and more pet owners are taking pets with them, the dire numbers are worrisome. For the majority of animal lovers, pets are more than a source of companionship and love—they are bona fide members of the family. Yet many transportation companies such as airlines still treat animals as cargo, sometimes with deadly consequences.
Honest Paws released a study in June about animal airline deaths in 2010 through 2020, based on the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) requirement that each airline in the United States submit a monthly report on deaths, loss, and injuries of animals during air transport. The number of incidents reported applies only to animals that the U. S. Department of Agriculture considers pets (“privately owned companion animals”) and not to animals shipped for research or resale or en route to sanctuaries.
From that report, Honest Paws created a list of the top five offending airlines, based on the number of reported pet incidents, injuries, or deaths.
The Offenders
Key results from Honest Paws showed that United Airlines is the worst airline for transporting pets, with the highest number
of reported pet incidents, including deaths, injuries, and losses. Delta Airlines and American Airlines also made the list of the top five.
United had 138 reported incidents, Delta 119, Alaska Airlines 83, American Airlines 55, and Hawaii Airlines 21. More animals sustained injuries on United Airlines than on any other airline between 2010 and 2020, accounting for more than 32 percent of all recorded airline pet injuries in the United States.
Although United Airlines had the most reported incidents, more animals died on Delta Airlines than on any other airline between 2010 and 2020, accounting for more than 30 percent of all recorded airline pet deaths in the United States.
Why Are So Many Dying?
According to Honest Paws, stress might be the biggest killer of pets on airplanes. In August 2019, for instance, a blue heeler traveling on American Airlines was unresponsive after arrival at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on Saint Croix in the U. S. Virgin Islands. A veterinarian later concluded that the dog’s death had been related to travel-induced stress.
In November 2019, an Abyssinian cat also traveling on American Airlines was found to have died of cardiac arrest. In February 2020, a Yorkshire terrier aboard a Delta Airlines flight was pronounced dead after having been found unresponsive when the plane landed. The incident report notes the possibility that the terrier’s death potentially was related to low blood sugar. However, because some of the symptoms of hypoglycemia are very similar to the symptoms of a panic attack, it remains to be seen whether travel-related anxiety was the true cause of the terrier’s death.
The environment on a plane could also play a role in animal injuries. Most airplane cargo holds are not climate controlled, which could lead to serious injury or death from heat stroke or hypothermia. During flights, if the heater in the cargo hold malfunctions, the temperature can drop to near freezing levels.
The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service prohibits animals from being kept in the hold or on the tarmac for more than 45 minutes when the temperature is above 85 degrees or below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Some airlines refuse to allow animals to fly to cities where ground temperatures exceed those limits.
How To Protect Your Pet
According to AAA, one of the most important ways you can protect your pet when flying is to take an active role. First, do your research and compare airlines’ animal transport and welfare policies. Although all airlines are subject to basic Animal Welfare Association regulations, standards can vary dramatically from one airline to another.
One good tip is that the more information an airline has about pet transport,
the better care it takes. All major airlines provide information about pet transport on their websites, so don’t skimp on the research.
Although some smaller dogs and cats can be transported as carry-on luggage, be aware that you will be charged a fee each way. If you are shipping your pet unaccompanied as cargo, the cost is often greater.
If your pet is flying in the hold, try to reserve a nonstop flight to reduce time on the tarmac or confusion when changing planes. In summer, fly during early morning or late evening when temperatures are cooler, and try to avoid holiday travel whenever possible.
Although it might be tempting to sedate your animal to reduce stress, this is generally not recommended. Sedation can cause respiratory or cardiovascular problems in increased altitude pressure, so never administer any kind of tranquilizer without your veterinarian’s approval.
You can also ask that your animal’s crate be loaded on and off the airplane by hand to reduce the chances of the crate falling off the conveyor belt.
Above all, tell the flight crew and the captain that your pet is aboard. This is especially important because the pilot should turn on the heater for the cargo hold. If you have delays or long layovers, ask airline personnel to make sure your pet is comfortable or even ask to be allowed to check the pet yourself.
Other Options
If you can’t hire a pet sitter or board your
pet at a kennel or absolutely must travel with a pet, you might want to consider other modes of transportation.
Obviously, driving takes more time, but it could be the safest alternative when traveling with a pet. In addition, you can make use of websites such as GoPetFriendly to uncover pet-friendly destinations and plan pet-friendly rest stops.
Train travel is also easier, especially for larger pets in cargo. Amtrak allows passengers to travel with pets, although weight restrictions are in place.
Another option is to take to the seas. Pet-friendly private yachts and ferries are growing in popularity, and many cruise ships offer pet accommodations — some with dog walks, treats, and open-deck exercise yards.
Another choice, albeit a pricey one, is to fly on a private jet. If traveling with other passengers who have multiple pets, the price can be split to be more reasonable.
Weisbecker said she used a pet shipping service, which knows how to handle pets. “If you have a large animal or a couple of animals, it could cost thousands of dollars, but to us, it was worth it,” she said. “They use an air-conditioned van and work with the airlines to make sure the pets are the last cargo loaded. Then they pick up the animals at the airport and bring them to the animal holding areas.”
Travel and air travel will continue to be necessary, but as long as pets face health risks in cargo, pet owners should consider alternatives that keep their furry friends safe and content.
