Flying your dog around…the whys and why nots!!
Beware when you put your dog on one of these!!!
I recently posted an entry about a new airline that will only exist for the purpose of making the flight for your dog enjoyable. In fact, all they transport will be our furry friends. For many who have had to transport your dog by air, this can be a blessing. However, there are many reasons why dogs are not meant to be in the air, besides the fact that they don’t have wings.
First of all, air travel as it currently stands (other than with PetAirways) is rather dangerous for dogs. Many are hurt or killed specifically while in the cargo area of the plane. In fact, since 2005 109 animals, mostly dogs, have died as a result of their air travel experience.
It is unfairly expensive to fly dogs around the country. Consider the argument I read in an article on MSNBC.com. While airlines have various rates to fly dogs on their planes, which seems inequitable to begin with, consider the fact that you can have a child, if young enough to sit on your lap for free, but even if you have a small dog that can be put under the seat in a small carrier, you will pay anywhere from $70 to $200 one way, just to fly your dog with you.
Suppose you find an airline with great fares and great flight times to suit your needs. Certain airlines, like Southwest Airlines simply refused to transport pets for any reason. In some cases, even when the dog’s flight goes well, they are so spooked by the experience that they run at the first opportunity. An award winning American whippet that had just won an award in the Westminster Dog Show in 2006 went missing out at JFK airport when the dog escaped from its cage during a flight transport.
So a word to the wise…avoid planes with your dog…take a nice long road trip.
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