January 31st, 2011 8:30 pm ET
What an absolutely tragic situation. An 11 week old Sphynx kitten that was being flown from Utah to Bradley International Airport in Connecticut, was left in the cargo hold while the plane was on the ground for an hour, the airplane's climate control shut off.
Eyewitness News reports, "By the time kitten and owner united, Snickers was icy cold and couldn't move her head or paws, Lombardi said. The kitten died a short time later."
The kitten's owner, Heather Lombardi, payed almost $300.00 to have her new kitten flown in special and cared for properly. This tragic death should never have happened. If the airline had done their job, the kitten would still be alive. Temperatures in CT, especially this winter (which has been especially brutal) have been ranging well below normal and a hairless kitten wouldn't have a chance in this kind of cold, even for one hour! It would have been rough on any kitten to be confined in sub freezing temperatures for an hour, but one without hair just doesn't have a chance.
The price of Snickers the kitten's air fare included a fee to ensure her safe removal from the plane the moment it landed. This was neglected. Delta Airlines will be held accountable for the kitten's death, but that won't bring poor little Snickers back to life, nor does it even the score for the suffering she endured.
Lombardi and her daughter took the kitten to the vet immediately, but despite the heat of the car, the kitten let out a terrible cry and went limp. Hypothermia can cause the body's organs to shut down and after a time, nerves go numb. The sudden heat on the kitten's cold body brought nerves back to life causing extreme pain and shock. Ultimately, the kitten should have been warmed back up slowly, but chances are she was too far gone to have made it anyway.
In accordance with the Animal Welfare Act, the airline could potentially face revocation of its license to transport animals. "The impact of cold on pets depends on body type, health, coat, where the breed was developed and for what purpose," said veterinarian Louise Murray, vice president of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital in New York City. "For example, a greyhound will get colder faster than a cocker spaniel."
Be careful when planning to transport pets by air. Check up with the airlines and be diligent about making sure the safety of your pet is top priority. If you suspect anything might not be right, ask!
Continue reading on Examiner.com: Hairless Kitten Freezes to Death at Bradley - Hartford Cats
Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/cats-in-hartford/hairless-kitten-freezes-to-death-at-bradley#ixzz1EEEX4yoz
No comments:
Post a Comment