One Puppy Survives Freezing Flight

Miracle puppy!

Well there's good news... and there's heart-wrenchingly awful news. WABC reports that Saturday night two 6-week-old puppies journeyed from Mexico City to New York City inside a cargo bay on an aircraft bound for JFK. But during their flight the temperature dropped and when they landed, Customs and Border Protection officers received a call saying they appeared to be dead.

Officers responded to find one puppy clinging to life, and the other dead—but through some quick first aid, the one who was barely alive pulled through. A vet that evaluated him said he is playful and doing well, and has been reunited with his owner.

Is there no protocol for making sure precious cargo like this doesn't freeze to death on a long flight? According to Pet Travel, "temperature restrictions have been established by some airlines to ensure animals are not exposed to extreme heat or cold in the animal holding areas, terminal facilities, when moving the animals between terminal and aircraft or on an aircraft." And allegedly pets cannot be accepted when the ground temperature is below 45 degrees.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on January 29, 2010 9:51 AM

Comments [rss]

lightsformunny

Unfuckingbelievable. Fucking assholes.

That is all.

Mordicai

Well you could also try not transporting puppies in the middle of winter...I guess...

NannyState

Dead puppies aren't much fun.

robingee

They don't come when you call, they don't chase sticks at all.

nivek

But not for felixthecat!

pinky

For all of you who are assuming the owners are cruel to take the puppies away from their mother at a young age and were from a puppy mill – you are wrong. I know the owners. The puppies were a gift and the article is wrong. They’re not 6 weeks but almost 8 weeks old. They were actually the puppies from a dog that the family (that they were visiting) had for a long time. These dogs were given shots and taken to the vet many times in order to get the proper documentation for the puppies to board the plane. When the owners went to check in for the flight, they bought tickets for the puppies expecting the puppies to be on their laps during the flight. It was the AIRLINE that told them no, they have to go in the cargo. The airline refused to let the puppies be with the owners.

I’m not saying that animal cruelty doesn’t happen… Just not in this case. It was the airline’s fault for misplacing live cargo. IF they allowed the owners to carry it on the flight, this wouldn’t have happened.

just saying

When the owners went to check in for the flight, they bought tickets for the puppies expecting the puppies to be on their laps during the flight."

On their laps? Are you saying the owners didn't have a carrier for the puppies? I thought all commercial airlines require carriers which are also supposed to go under the seat during the flight.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

Why didn't these people neuter their dog instead of breeding her? shame.

ridgeside

Um Felix, Girls do not get neutered, they get spayed, SHAME!!! BAD ACTIVIST, BAD!!!!

Amanda Harletsch

I would not blame the owners as much as the people that think living creatures can stand the conditions boxes and other cargo stands, in this case the direct responsible was the airline, but as an owner i would not pay for a pet ticket and be OK with boxing the pet and sending it to the luggage compartment. Puppies (yes believe it or not they are still fragile) are definetly not "cargo" material in scientific terms.

Perhaps human judgment about the "value" of life is not beyond nature.

pinky

Well, they weren't okay but the airline gave them no other choice. It was either to abandon the puppies or listen to the airline. The airline assured that the puppies would be safe there.

In some countries, neutering dogs isn't as highly supported as they are here. If you have a dog, it's considered a blessing. It's hard to find dogs that aren't strays. Usually the owners take care of the dog and they want to continue the so called legacy of the dog. So if the dog has puppies, they give it away as a gift to relatives as part of a custom.

Spirit of 76

Yo might want to let these people know that they're "morons" with "FAT ASSES." Or so it says above.

MsMarvel

That puppy is adorable. I hope he gets raised well by owners mindful of how lucky they are they got to keep this little guy.

40oz.killa

STFU with all this compassion bullshyt.. lol why is everybody arguing over NONSENSE? 1 dog died! oh no! jeez.

robingee

Well, no. Not ONE dog... it could be any animal that is traveling with family or is being sent somewhere. The airline is at fault.

Amanda Harletsch

what is the bullshit in compassion? dare to elaborate?

40oz.killa

what i meant was getting worked up over this talk about being compassionate is bs. This dog clearly died by accident or by incompetence and it wasnt intentional. these arguments have nothing to do with the article so im calling it nonsense and bs. like seriously, what r u guys arguing about?

Amanda Harletsch

Most people will react to a loss of life due to negligence. Nothing weird here. What is weird is to expect people to think your ONE WAY: YOURS, because in your opinion people should not pay attention to the "accidental" death of an innocent being.