Dog Traveling To Newark On Delta Flight Dies, Owner Wants Answers

A dog traveling from Phoenix, Arizona to Newark, New Jersey aboard a Delta Air Lines flight died during a layover in Detroit, Michigan last week, prompting an outcry from its owner, reports say.

The 8-year-old Pomeranian was found dead in its carrier last Wednesday at a cargo facility at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. A lawyer representing the owner said that the dog passed a physical before departing from the flight from Phoenix. It was placed in the cargo section and was later found with a bloody blanket among its belongings, the Detroit Free Press stated.

A Delta Air Lines spokesperson told Fox News that the dog was “in good health” after the flight from Phoenix and was brought to the staging area. A kennel facility determined the dog died about two hours later, the spokesperson stated.

Airline officials immediately notified the owner, who declined Delta’s offer to conduct a necropsy, Fox News reported.

"We lost a family member,” the dog’s owner, Michael Dellegrazie, told ClickOnDetroit. “That's exactly what happened, and somebody has to be responsible for it.”

• See related article: Dog Still Missing After Escape From Cargo Area At Tampa International Airport

FLYING SAFELY WITH A PET

Here are some general tips on flying safely with a pet, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA):

• Book a direct flight whenever possible. This will decrease the chances that your pet is left on the tarmac during extreme weather conditions or mishandled by baggage personnel during a layover.
• Make an appointment with your pet’s veterinarian for a checkup. Prior to your trip, make sure your pet’s vaccinations are up-to-date and obtain a health certificate from your veterinarian dated within 10 days of your departure. Tranquilizing your pet is generally not recommended as it could hamper his or her breathing, so use this time to check with your veterinarian for ways to relax your pet if you suspect he or she may become afraid, anxious or uncomfortable mid-flight. For travel outside of the continental United States, additional planning and health care requirements may be necessary. Contact the foreign office of the country you are traveling to for more information.
• Purchase a USDA-approved shipping crate. The crate should be large enough for your pet to stand, sit and turn around in comfortably, and lined with some type of bedding—shredded paper or towels—to absorb accidents. Prior to your trip, tape a small pouch of dried food outside the crate so airline personnel will be able to feed your pet in case he or she gets hungry during a layover. The night before you leave, freeze a small dish or tray of water for your pet. This way, it can’t spill during loading and will melt by the time he or she is thirsty. Make sure the crate door is securely closed, but not locked, so that airline personnel can open it in case of an emergency.
• Make sure your pet’s crate has proper identification. Mark the crate with the words “Live Animal,” as well as with your name, cell phone and destination phone number, and a photo of your pet. Should your pet escape from the carrier, this could be a lifesaver. You should also carry a photograph of your pet.

“Tell every airline employee you encounter—on the ground and in the air—that you are traveling with a pet in the cargo hold," the ASPCA advises. "This way, they'll be ready if any additional considerations or attention is needed. If the plane is delayed, or if you have any concerns about the welfare of your pet, insist that airline personnel check the animal whenever feasible. In certain situations, removing the animal from the cargo hold and deplaning may be warranted.”

The Humane Society of the United States says that air travel can be risky for pets:

“Air travel can be particularly dangerous for animals with ‘pushed in’ faces (the medical term is brachycephalic), such as bulldogs, pugs and Persian cats. Their short nasal passages leave them especially vulnerable to oxygen deprivation and heat stroke.”

The Humane Society adds:

“While most animals flown in the cargo area of airplanes are fine, you should be aware that some animals are killed, injured or lost on commercial flights each year. Excessively hot or cold temperatures, poor ventilation and rough handling are often to blame… Most U.S. airlines are required to report all companion animal incidents that occur in the cargo hold, and consumers should study the performance record of any airline before choosing to fly your pet in a cargo hold.”

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