Dog Dies on Flight: Safe Pet Travel Tips

A pug traveling in the pet cargo area was found dead on arrival after a flight from Moscow to New York on November 1st. Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines is investigating how the dog died, but the dog’s owners believe their adored pet froze to death, reports Orlando’s WKMG-TV.

John Von Achen Jr. and his wife, Julia, boarded the New York bound flight before returning home to Orlando. The pub named “J” was fine in Moscow, where a vet had cleared him for travel, but “like a popsicle,” when the dog was taken off the plane, John Von Achen told the news station.

“He’s part of our family. I’m heartbroken, devastated, destroyed,” Von Achen said this week. “They killed our dog.”

Julia Von Achen told WKMG that passengers became so cold during the flight they asked for blankets, and that she asked about the dog’s safety and was told the temperature is adjusted in the pet area.

A Delta spokesman told WKMG each pet cargo area is pressurized and temperature controlled, but added the airline has had “challenges” with flying pets safely. ”With those past challenges, we take the transport of pets very seriously and safely transport many hundreds of pets every year. Again, we regret this episode and will work with the customer to make it right.”

Delta has the second-highest rate of pet injuries during airline travel, according to statistics from the Department of Transportation. Between 2005 and 2009, 224 dogs were reported as killed, injured or lost by airlines. Continental had the worst record, with 58 incidents. Delta had 43, while Alaska Airlines had 36 incidents.

Are you planning on traveling with your pet during the holidays? Read on for tips on making your pet’s holidays as safe as possible.

Happy Flying with Your Dog or Cat
10 Tips for Traveling With Pets (with video)
Leaving Pets With a Sitter

Read more: Cats, Dogs, Holidays, Pets, Safety, Travel

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

1:29AM PDT on May 6, 2013

so sorry for the angel,thank you for sharing

May 6
send a green star

Natasha S.

8:28PM PDT on May 3, 2013

How horrible, I'd be devasted if any of my 4 legged kids died on a flight. Simply don't fly your pets on these airlines...find another option! Where's the compensation/justice for these deaths??

May 3
send a green star

Wayne B.

9:41AM PDT on May 3, 2013

NEVER fly you pet on Delta or Continental!!!

Melissa F.

7:47AM PDT on May 3, 2013

how awful. I hope the flight gets in trouble for this. I couldn't imagine how devastated the owner[s] of the pug was. =[[ Poor thing

Aud N.

10:40AM PDT on May 2, 2013

poor dog

May 2
send a green star

Jessica N.

11:45AM PST on Nov 19, 2012

How do you make right killing a family member?

Also, this is why you should drive if at all possible, and don't do international travel with pets.

November 19
send a green star

Karen F.

1:23PM PST on Nov 18, 2012

Never fly with a pet in the hold. They are just baggage to the airlines.

November 18
send a green star

rene d.

12:17AM PDT on Oct 29, 2012

Horrible.

October 29
send a green star

Past Member .

4:21PM PST on Nov 29, 2011

Heartbroken? I doubt it; you must love someone first to ever feel heartbroken. No one who loves someone would ever allow that someone to travel in a cargo hold. No sane person risks the life of someone they love. And the comments stating that people sometimes have to travel by air with a pet is nonsense. It wouldn't happen, ever, for any reason, unless it was a chartered plane and my dog was in the cabin with me. When I adopted my dog from dog prison 11 years ago it became quickly apparent to me that travelling was out of the question unless we were travelling by car. I have noticed that a lot of people with dogs frequently and clumsily use the words "family" and "love" then attempt to talk themselves and others into believing their bad decisions were sound. No flying for dogs until it is safe. Period.