Dear Editor:
The reported disappearance of a dog named Ty at the Los Angeles International Airport after he was checked with the baggage is a reminder of why we should never ship our animal companions like luggage.
Every year, animals are lost, injured, and killed on flights. Cats and dogs have escaped after their carriers were damaged in transit and become lost inside airplanes and hangars. Others have bolted, never to be seen again, after airline employees let them out during layovers. Many others have been cooked alive or died of hypothermia inside planes’ cargo holds, which can quickly reach deadly temperature extremes because they are designed for luggage—not living beings.
Being tossed among the luggage in a loud, dark, strange place, far from their guardians is also extremely traumatic for animals. If you must fly with your animal, always take him or her in the cabin with you. If your animal is too large or unsuited for flying, it’s far safer and less stressful to drive her to your destination or leave her at home with a trusted caretaker.
For more tips on traveling with animals, visit www.PETA.org.
Sincerely,
Lindsay Pollard-Post
The PETA Foundation
501 Front St.
Norfolk, VA 23510
(757) 622-7382, ext. 8107