Why did taking our dogs on planes end in such heartache?

When we moved from the UAE to Germany, I arranged for the British Veterinary Center (BVC) in Abu Dhabi to arrange transport for my three bulldogs, Butch, Brutus and Biggie. The vet declared them healthy and they were booked on the same Etihad flight as me. The BVC dropped them off at the airport at 9:30 p.m., and they were kept in an air-conditioned pet lounge for three hours before being transferred to the plane. It seems that they then found themselves without air conditioning. It was discovered that Butch was dead and Biggie and Brutus were seriously ill and had to be removed from the plane and brought back to the BVC for urgent treatment.

We were in the plane ignorant. It wasn't until we landed in Germany that we found messages from the BVC informing us of what had happened. Etihad never said a word to us and never apologized. In the end, he offered to fly Biggie and Brutus for free two weeks later, but no one offered to pay the cost of their medical treatment or Butch's cremation. These dogs are my children and I don't think I will ever get over it.AJ, Germany

It's a terribly scary story and I'm so sorry. I dug as much as I could, and it seems like we'll never really know what happened that night. The transfer from the cargo terminal to the hold took half an hour, which Etihad says is relatively short considering the distance. During this time, your pets were in their carrier on an open cart (a flatbed trailer). It was not air conditioned.

It was nighttime so there was no direct sun, but the temperature outside was around 28 degrees. Cool by UAE standards but warm for a large snub-nosed dog in a crate. The dogs never reached the plane. Their condition was discovered during a final check before loading, and they were brought back to the terminal and then brought back to the BVC. Etihad suggested to me that stress had caused their deterioration.

The BVC says it is "highly unlikely" that anything other than heat stroke has could cause all three to collapse so suddenly at the same time. According to the BVC, snub-nosed — or brachycephalic — animals can overheat within minutes. It is a crucial factor. These pets, especially English bulldogs, have the highest mortality rate of any animal during flights, as their restricted respiratory systems make them susceptible to changes in air quality.

< p class="dcr-18sg7f2">Many airlines refuse to carry them and Etihad will no longer do so after the end of this year. BVC asked you to sign a waiver stating that the stress of flying could pose a "significant risk".

One ​​would hope that this risk meant extra vigilance on the part of ground and airline personnel during what must have been a very noisy, hot and stressful half hour on the trolley.

Etihad insists that it treated them in accordance with the live animal regulations issued by the International Air Transport Association, and is therefore not responsible for the costs, although it transported the surviving dogs free of charge as a "goodwill gesture". He did not directly inform you of the incident because you had appointed BVC as your agent.

"Etihad Airways safely transports thousands of animals every year", he indicates. “While this incident is very sad and regrettable, Etihad exercised due diligence and followed due process at all times. The incident was entirely beyond Etihad's control.”

You and BVC also did everything you could, ensuring that your pets were properly prepared and checked before the flight. It is not possible to prove whether the conditions during the transfer were unreasonable, or if the nature of the breed led to an unpredictable quick reaction.

It didn't affect you much more, I'm afraid, and none resolution might not make up for your loss. But at least your ordeal can highlight the risks to other owners. If a brachycephalic animal must fly, the cabin is the safest place and some airlines allow it for animals in below a certain size. r the options, avoid traveling in hot weather if possible and help your pet acclimatize to its crate in the days before departure to minimize stress.

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