PETA to Air Canada: Set New Standard for Animal Safety

When
PETA caught wind of Air Canada’s recent loss of Larry—a dog who was forced to
fly “cargo” to his new home—we wrote the airline an urgent letter
asking it to change its live-animal transit policy.

Larry—an
Italian greyhound who had already lost so much, including his beloved guardian
to cancer—went missing more
than a week ago after an Air Canada employee let him out of his crate in San Francisco during a
flight delay. Packed with “absorbent material[s]” like baggage,
Larry had been scheduled to fly “cargo” to meet his new family in
British Columbia.

Larry’s
story is not unique. Every year, frightened companion animals are lost,
injured, and even killed after airline employees let them out of their carriers
during layovers—and many are never seen again. Others are cooked alive or die
of hypothermia when cargo-hold temperatures become deadly in minimally
ventilated spaces meant to transport luggage, not living beings.

Not
only is PETA asking Air Canada to prohibit the flying of animals in aircraft
cargo holds, we’re also asking Air Canada to convert two rows of seats in every
aircraft into cabin kennels for dogs who can’t fit under seats—a move that will
surely enhance Air Canada’s standing among customers.

Air
Canada has already shown itself to be a leader among airlines by banning the shipment
of primates destined for laboratories last year. By charging a premium price
for safe companion-animal seating, Air Canada would continue to be a
compassionate industry stand-out to animal guardians who are willing to pay a
little extra in order to keep their family members safe.

To
learn more about what you can do to keep your animals safe while traveling,
read PETA’s vacation
tips.