United Airlines has launched an internal investigation after a passenger’s puppy died on a flight Monday night because the flight attendants reportedly forced the owner to stow the dog in the overhead bin.
Please read that paragraph again so that I can continue.
CNBC reports that United has apologized for the incident and offered to refund the cost of the passenger’s tickets as well as pay for a necropsy on the dog.
Yes, because that makes all the difference in the world.
June Lara was another passenger on United Flight 1284—which was going from Houston to New York City—and in a Facebook post she detailed what she says happened, including that flight attendants allegedly insisted that the puppy owner place her pooch in the overhead compartment and leave him there for the entire three-and-a-half-hour flight.
Lara wrote:
Today, I boarded my first United Airlines flight.
On my way, I saw a Frenchie that looked identical to my own precious Winston. He was with his family—a young girl, no older than 8, her toddler sibling and their mother. He was meant to grow, learn, cry, play with those young children and be their furry friend. He was meant to live a long life filling that family’s days with that special joy that only a dog can bring.
I sat behind the family of three and thought myself lucky—who doesn’t when they get to sit near a puppy? However, the flight attendants of flight UA1284 felt that the innocent animal was better off crammed inside the overhead container without air and water. They INSISTED that the puppy be locked up for three hours without any kind of airflow. They assured the safety of the family’s pet so [warily], the mother agreed.
There was no sound as we landed and opened his kennel. There was no movement as his family called his name. I held her baby as the mother attempted to resuscitate their 10 month old puppy. I cried with them three minutes later as she sobbed over his lifeless body. My heart broke with theirs as I realized he was gone.
The Humane Society of the U.S. says air travel can be risky for pets and especially dangerous for brachycephalic breeds—such as pugs or bulldogs, whose short nasal passages make them vulnerable to oxygen deprivation and heat stroke. This little guy fought hard for his life, filling our flight with his cries until he finally ran out of breath. United Airlines does not care about the safety of their furry travelers. This poor family paid $125 for their pet to be murdered in front of them. There is no excuse for the pain this family is suffering.
Today, I boarded my last United Airlines flight.
R.I.P Papacito
The flight attendants apparently thought it would be a good idea for a small dog to be stuffed in the overhead bin for the entirety of a three-plus-hour flight? Seriously?
United already has enough public relations issues on its hands. I can only seeing it getting worse from here.
In my opinion, those United Airlines flight attendants are puppy killers.
United issued a statement, saying: “We assume full responsibility for this tragedy and express our deepest condolences to the family and are committed to supporting them. We are thoroughly investigating what occurred to prevent this from ever happening again.”
According to CNBC, United had the highest rate of animal deaths among all U.S. carriers in 2017.
And never forget, this is the same airline that dragged a paying customer off a flight to make room for commuting crew members.
I hope this woman and her family sue that airline.
United deserves everything it gets from this incident.