July 2024 Airline Pet Travel Report

This month we had one death and one injury, both dogs.

Delta Airlines Flight 754 from Seattle, Washington to Atlanta, Georgia had an adult dog of unknown age traveling in Cargo where an agent noticed the dog bleeding from its mouth. The agent followed procedures and after a veterinarian examined the dog, it was determined that the dog sustained injuries to its lower jaw, presumably while attempting escape its crate. The dog was bleeding from its gums and multiple teeth were broken or missing. The dog required surgery (dental extraction and suturing) and medication (pain relief and antibiotics) and the veterinarian proceeded to provide care for the dog. The owners of the dog were notified and pleased that veterinary care was provided for their dog. After receiving veterinary medical care and being released from the veterinary hospital, the dog was reunited with its pet owner.

Hawaiian Airlines Flight 50 from Honolulu, Hawaii to John F Kennedy, New York had a death of a French Bulldog of unknown age. During the offloading the ramp agent noticed that 1 of 3 total Live Animals was non-responsive and appeared to be deceased. After further inspection it was confirmed that 1 of 2 Live Animals under Airway Bill 173-9164 0986 was deceased. The French Bulldog is a Brachycephalic Breed where the Brachycephalic airway syndrome can lead to decreased oxygenation and hypoxia, particularly in times of stress, which may have contributed to death in this case. There will be a review of procedure / policy for acceptance of snub-nosed breeds for long-haul; policy change to prohibit acceptance of snub-nosed breeds for all flights.

Happy travels everyone and keep your pets safe out there!

Your PetFlight Team