As I'm sure many of you know, traveling in the cargo hold is not safe. This is why they don't let humans down there! (Wouldn't you think that there'd be a kennel attendant on flights with pets? Just to make sure they're safe?) Below are the reasons why traveling in the cargo hold is not safe!
- The air pressure in the cargo hold is NOT the same as the pressure in the passenger cabin. Almost all cargo holds are pressurized, but the question most
people don't ask, is "Will the air pressure in the cargo hold remain exactly the same as the airpressure in the passenger cabin throughout the entire flight?" The answer to this question is ALWAYS NO! There are chambers built into the aircraft that the pilot uses to adjust the air pressure to make the aircraft go up and down. The cargo hold is one of those chambers. If the pressure wasn't different, the plain would not go up and down. The best example was given to me by a friend who is a commercial pilot. He asked me if I had ever packed lotion or shampoo in my checked luggage, which of course I had. When I open my luggage on the other end, almost always the lotion and shampoo has exploded all over the inside of my bag. This is what can happen to your pet if he or she is in cargo. - Temperatures in the cargo hold can fluctuate significantly. Some cargo holds ARE temperature controled but most are not. Again I went back to the example of feeling the temperature of the shampoo or lotion that explodes all over my bag. It's almost always really cold when I open my bag. Some days the temperature can go from over 100 degrees Faranheit on the tarmac to under freezing while up in the air at high altitudes. Many airlines don't fly animals in cargo when it's too cold or too hot because they have to report all injuries, deaths, and losses (we'll get to this later on).
- It's VERY LOUD. Ever sit in the seats by the engine? Well when you're down in the cargo hold it's even louder and luggage is rattling around. This can really stress out a dog.
- Noxious Jet Fumes seep into the Cargo hold. You know when you're sitting at the gate before takeoff and the air suddenly comes on and it smells like jet fuel fumes.. well it's much worse in the cargo hold. There aren't any air filters down there which most aircraft have in the passenger cabins.
- It's Dark. Most cargo holds don't have lights on during the flight. There are lights in there but they're rarely turned on..
- Turbulence. While people are up in the passenger cabin they are strapped into their seats so if the aircraft hits turbulence they stay in their seats. (Ever see your drink go up in the air 6 inches?). In the cargo hold your pet in not securely strapped into a seat. Luggage shifts in the hold, and sometimes can go flying itself. Your pet's crate also has the potential to "shift" as the airlines like to say, and potentially roll over, or go flying. Sometimes they are strapped down, but many times they are not. Most of us who have friends who have flown pets have stories about their pet arriving with waste smeared all over the sides and top of their crate? How did that happen? The other thing to remember, even if your pet's crate is strapped down, they are not, and they have the potential to fly up and hit the top of their crate and get injured.
- Separation from their owner. Flying is extremely stressful for us, and for our pets its even more stressful. They have no idea what's going on. Most pets aren't used to being in a crate, let alone, being in a crate for a long period of time, in a dark, noisy, bouncy place, alone. They have no idea where their people are. They don't know if they are going to see their people again, and there is nobody there to help them or comfort them.
- Nobody to take care of them if they get injured, or suffer a cardiac arrest, or have respiratory problems. None of the commercial airlines have anyone in the cargo hold to ensure that your pets are safe, healthy, and alive, or get life saving care that they may need if they go into distress. (Remember the American Veterinary Medical Association (AMVA) , HSUS, and the FAA do NOT - I repeat - DO NOT - recommend sedating your pet prior to travel at all.)
- The Baggage Handlers - Although some are great with pets, if you've ever been behind the curtain at baggage claim you'll see all sorts of things you don't. Not only are they tossing the luggage from one place to the other and accidentally dropping it, but this also happens to pets. I was witness at an airport when a large crate with a lab in it, came flying down the baggage carosel with such momentum that it tipped right over the end of the carosel and flipped over with the dog right inside. The dog ended up with an injured leg. His carrier was much taller than the average piece of luggage and the momentum took it right over.
- Lost pets. Just a couple of months ago there was a story on the news about a soldier who was relocating to Germany from Washington DC. He was flying with his dog in cargo, and checked his dog in, then boarded the plane assuming that his dog had made it. Low and behold the baggage handlers had accidentally or on purpose - who knows (they may have wanted to take him out to pet him) let the dog out and he got freaked out and took off! They were unable to find him, but didn't bother to tell the owner who was onboard. They let him fly all the way to Germany before they notified him that his dog was missing. The dog is still missing. We all also know about the show dog who was lost at Kennedy Airport a few years ago too. This dog also was never found.
- Brachycephalic Pets - Short nosed pets, like bull dogs, pugs, boxers, (see more) and even persian, himalayan, and many exotic short hair cats are at an increased risk for suffering from respiratory distress while flying due to their shortened respiratory system. These animals are prone to respiratory issues to begin with, but when you add the stress of flying, the risk of death goes much higher. Many airlines refuse to fly with short nosed animals in the cargo hold, and many even in the passenger cabin. Just about all airlines will make you sign a disclaimer if you do travel with them on the aircraft. Click on the link to learn more about traveling with a Brachycephalic pet.
The best and safest way to fly is with your pet in the passenger cabin of the aircraft, sitting right next to you. For cat owners, this is usually pretty easy. Most cats are small enough to fit into carriers that fit under the seat and can travel as carry-ons. Most commercial airlines will allow small animals in the passenger cabin as carry-ons. For most dogs though, this may be a little more challenging. The Dogtravel Company provides a safe solution to traveling with dogs. To my knowledge this is the only company that will alow dogs of all sizes to fly in the passenger cabin of the aircraft, sitting right next to their owners. The best part of flying with them is that your dog will never leave your side. You will never have to deal with the stress of worrying if your dog will come out alive on the other side.
REPORTING OF STATISTICS - DEATHS, INJURIES, AND LOSSES OF PETS TRAVELING ON US BASED AIRLINES - Earlier in this blog, I mentioned that the airlines are now required to report all deaths, injuries, and loss of pets. This came about after HSUS, and a number of other animal welfare organizations began to lobby the FAA and DOT to try and hold the airlines accountable for the large numbers of animals that were dieing and being injured while in flight, as well as the large numbers of animals that were being lost during transit. These reports are available on the US Department of Transportation's Website. They are a little burried, and at the end of each month's report, and sometimes the reports are just copies of the month before, but if you'd like to review these reports you can visit the DOT Consumer Reports Page. If you'd like to read the reports in a more user friendly format, a website called the Third Amendment does a very nice job of reporting the monthly and annual statistics. These statistics are reported by airline, and by month and year. (Keep in mind, airlines from other countries do not have to report deaths, injuries, and losses).
The only safe solution to flying with your pet that I know of is flying with them sitting right next to you in the passenger cabin. The Dogtravel Company is the only company we know that let's you do this, regardless of how big your dog is.
Flights scheduled to and from Hawaii, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Chicago, Orlando and other cities. Dogtravel will also custom build travel arrangements for their members.
For anyone planning to Hawaii. There is a flight scheduled from Los Angeles to Hawaii on December 1, 2008 and a flight from Hawaii to Los Angeles schedule December 2, 2008
The only safe solution to flying with your pet that I know of is flying with them sitting right next to you in the passenger cabin. The Dogtravel Company is the only company we know that let's you do this, regardless of how big your dog is.
Flights scheduled to and from Hawaii, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Chicago, Orlando and other cities. Dogtravel will also custom build travel arrangements for their members.
For anyone planning to Hawaii. There is a flight scheduled from Los Angeles to Hawaii on December 1, 2008 and a flight from Hawaii to Los Angeles schedule December 2, 2008
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