Outcry after dog dies in hold

[Willi B]

This morning's 'Canberra Times' carries an article about the tragic death of a pet golden retriever whilst on board a QANTAS flight at Melbourne.

The full article is at:
http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=news&subclass=general&story_id=567902&category=general

If the article is accurate, all responsible should hang their heads in shame.

[Lefthanded_Rock_Thrower]

That is shameful, pets are members of the family.

[Jenna Talia]

In total agreeance with you guys. In fact, I do not particularly like carrying any animal in the cargo hold. If the cargo hold fire warning comes on during flight (the very occasional ones have been false - never known an actual in the company) then we have no choice but to fire the bottles, followed by a horrible death for the animal.

JT

[virgindriver]

The crew would have been aware of the dog if they were onboard. I know when we are delayed with animals in the hold I try to make sure it remains open if possible. Passengers I find always ask about their pets wellbeing and it doesn't hurt to go for a walk downstairs to check. A delay of 5 hours though? I doubt the tech crew would have been anywhere near the aircraft so I don't think they could be to blame. The loaders downstairs though can't hang around... Maybe a bit of lack of communication between the groundies??

[Buster Hyman]

Yeah, but think of the savings from the Taxidermist!

Almost froze a pallet of greyhounds bound for HKG once. Loaded in the wrong hold...DOH! :ugh: Called it back, reloaded to main deck & everyone was happy...except Ops due the 45min delay!:O

[Eastwest Loco]

TN did freeze one of Repco Lad's mates - a seriously good chaser - on the way from Melbourne to PER in the belly of an A300. Crew did not know they had a puppy onboard.

Not good enough this one. Air Dicko needs to ensure the service standard up and downstairs for those paying a decent dollar.

If it had have been my spaniel Meggie, I would have been all over the staff to get her off the aeroplane and where I could get to her to ensure she had a drink and a wee.

If that was refused, I would have been offloaded with her anyway. Blood would have been spilled and without apology from me.

ps:apologies for being testy tonight. Dances with Asian Airline call centre in BKK. I won - got a supervisor after literally having to go balistic to do that much. This industry is going to hell in a handcart right from the pointy end to the good people that clean the aeroplanes on turnaround.

Meggie is hiding on my pillow. She is indeed a smart girl.

EWL

[Tempo]

At the end of the day......S&*t happens

[BrazDriver]

QANTAS lost my dog on a flight. Got it back 33 hours later. Very traumatized puppy! I have no idea where it got sent!
The only response I got when it didnt show up was ''I have no idea where it is" - At least they were honest!

[zulu_kilo]

QO lost [I]or delayed[I] a parrot once :suspect: , from memory it was found a day later a bit thirsty and tired, but otherwise OK.

[Willi B]

But in this case, QANTAS, initially, was less than honest.

It seems that on inquiry, the dog's owners were given the old public service 'sloping shoulders, not in my duty statement' treatment.

It was only due to their persistence that QANTAS finally accepted responsibility - see http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?story_id=568172

As the dog owner says:
"I think its time these large organisations like Qantas stopped treating the public like idiots, and were more transparent in their processes. Europe and the US are way ahead of Australia in terms of public accountability and the right to information by the ordinary citizen."

[Lefthanded_Rock_Thrower]

I think the RSCPA guy hit the nail on the head, it is an untaped market.

I personally am prepared to pay seat rates for my loved pets travel for the assurance of a safe arrival.

Guess the idea will be submitted to the QF board somewhere in the near future to offer a premium pet service, they will vote on it, then they will conduct a market analysis, put together a proposed product, prices, routes, vote again and program a start date for sometime in the next year.

Meanwhile Virgin will probably see it as a good idea and make it happen immediately, some six months before QF releases its proposal for said service.

Like the day of the $1400 economy one way airfare to Perth, perhaps Mr Branson can again offer another more reliable, economical and customer orientated product, good luck.

Shame on you QF.

[piston broke again]

I know of one situation where a dog was put in the wrong hold between Melbourne and Sydney. It was only realised when it was too late. Upon landing the hold was opened...lucky the dog was an Alaskan Malamute and could handle the cold...a little shaken up but otherwise not too bad.

[Atlas Shrugged]

somewhere in the near future to offer a premium pet service,
My pussy always flies first class! :eek:

[rammel]

As someone mentioned earlier, the flight crew and ramp guys were probably no where near the aircraft. The ramp guys would have finished loading and then they would have been gone. Apparently this flight ground returned (only heard this 2nd hand) and then it appeared to be a rolling delay.

I had a look at the delay policy and no where does it specifically say to notify cargo or the ramp if there is a delay. It is all to do with customer service. If cargo had been notified, they then would have asked the ramp to open the hold.

Nobody does these things on purpose. Believe it or not the ramp guys are proactive with looking after animals. There pax who will pack a large dog in a medium cage, and the ramp guys will berate them in the way they know best.

This case does seem like a classic case of no communication though.

Another recent case of no communication regarding a delay, was MH a few weeks ago. The arvo flight returned to blocks and went at 1000 the folling day. No one told cargo and a B777-200 full of perishable cargo was written off.

[ITCZ]

Its a shame that nobody focuses on the fact that QF now treats its staff worse than dogs. Is it really a surprise to you all that a dog was overlooked by overworked, under pressure, under-resourced staff?

I once saw a notice on the wall of a Cairns charter company office which read: "Treat your staff the way you want them to treat your customer!"

QF culture => QF staff => Dead dog.

[hoss]

I like to keep it simple. If I observe any animal waiting to be loaded on the ramp exposed to the elements, mishandled, clearly in distress beyond the normal etc. I simply call the operations control, give them 5 minutes to fix the problem or else I will be calling the RSPCA (SYD 9 770 7555) followed with a photograph or two.

Like I said simple:) .

[Bolty McBolt]

The dog's owner should be taking legal advise to see whether criminal charges can be laid, and how much to sue the sh*t out of qantas for.

Read the fine print..

If the article is correct in stating the over 4000 animals die each year in the US being airtransported.
I think you will find the fine print says NO care No responsiblity and QF met that target ... :yuk:

[Chronic Snoozer]

That wasn't perchance a Norwegian Blue that was displaced was it? When you got it back did it talk?.....:}

[Bolty McBolt]

Norwegian Blue
It was so full of life we had to nail it to the perch other wise it would
VOOOM !!!!!

[Chimbu chuckles]

I agree with ITCZ. Sufficient staff, well resourced and not worked to the point of exasperation would fix this problem.

A few staff on duty at each port who's job it is to keep track of potential customer service stuff ups and fix them...but that would cost money and as Dixon has quite clearly stated recently his only concern, and quite deliberately, is shareholders.

I am reminded of the (possibly appocryphal) story from the 70s where a cat was found dead in the hold of a domestic flight...in QLD if memory serves.
The little old lady was quite distressed by the fact that her moggy was 'missing' but she was reassured it would be found and delivered to her home.

In due course a near identical cat was found and delivered by relieved ground staff..."But that is not my cat" exclaimed the old lady. "Maddam we assure you this is indeed your cat" "No it is NOT...my cat is dead, I was bringing her home to bury her!!"

[Chronic Snoozer]

So Mrs Slocombe's pussy died after all!

[MUNT]

The dog's owner should be taking legal advise to see whether criminal charges can be laid, and how much to sue the sh*t out of qantas for.

Yeah, like I did when my pet rat died in the hold. Sent 6 blokes to maximum security prison for 4 years because of their 'criminal' mistake. Oh I hope they learnt their lesson in prison, 'criminal' b*stards...:ugh:

[priapism]

I have followed this story with interest as it featured on radio 3aw's morning "rumour file" and was followed up by a mid morning talk back presenter- Neil Mitchell.

He interviewed a Q.F spin doctor who was ducking for cover and intimated that there may have been a problem with the dog ,in the form of a pre existing condition , that may have added to his demise. She based this on the fact that another, younger dog ( short haired ) survived the ordeal-although dehydrated. what she neglected to mention was the deceased dog was a 5 year old long haired dog- a golden retriever in fact , who had been thoroughly vet checked prior to the trip.

The owner's of the dog , both educated professioal people who were relocating to Europe spoke beautifully when interviewed a few weeks later.
They explained to Mr Mitchell that they had not heard at all from Q.F and had to personally contact the Vet in Bangkok who performed an autopsy which revealed a dog which had no underlying pathophysiology that would have led to an unexpected sudded death. The autopsy concluded death from hypovolaemia through dehydration and heat exhaustion .

The poor couple and their devastated teenaged daughter had the results faxed to them and had to contact Q.F , despite Q.F being sent the autopsy report a week prior to the family receiving it.

They were not seeking anything but honesty from Q.F - which they had not received. This pet was dearly loved enough for them to transport to Europe-the main reason was because their daughter was leaving all her friends in Australia for the first time to attend a foreign school. The dog was very precious to her and they are having extreme difficulty with her settling in without her furry friend to come home to. She cannot understand it at all.

I hope those who are making flippant comments about this will stop and think about how they would feel in the same position.

I'm damn sure that if it was my family I would be a lot less diplomatic and forgiving than this refined couple.

I hope they change their ming and go for the jugular-money is the only language that Q.F understands.

[Keg]

I know of one situation where a dog was put in the wrong hold between Melbourne and Sydney. It was only realised when it was too late. Upon landing the hold was opened...lucky the dog was an Alaskan Malamute and could handle the cold...a little shaken up but otherwise not too bad.

Oh please. The bulk hold temp MEL-SYD would be lucky to drop below about 15 degrees.

[Argus]

priapism

Totally agree. Neglecting the dog is bad enough, but it simply beggars belief that QANTAS would then intentionally misprepresent the facts in an attempt to evade responsibility and liability.

I hope the owners change their minds and decide to seek redress for QF's reprehensible and culpable conduct .

[amos2]

Many moons ago Captain Nobles Buckley, South Australias answer to Chuck Yeager, was transporting a champion grey hound from Adelaide to Sydney in a Guineas Airways DH 84 Dragon. On arrival at Bankstown the carton the mutt was in was found to be empty, but with a large hole in the bottom! It was also discovered that there was a large hole in the fabric of the Dragons fuselage, where the carton had been stowed! :sad:

[WHSB]

That's what happens if you move the "dead dog switch"...sorry cargo heat, the wrong way

[hoggsnortrupert]

If my memory serves me correct:

That Alleged Fa---t, Wacko Jacko, paid a 1st class airfare for his pet monkey bubbles.

Whatever happened to Bubbles?


In 1985 I shipped my Ex wife and my Golden Retriever (tramp) ANZ , CH-AKL, all went well, he was pleased to see me, Kept him, got rid of the wife.



H/snort.

[ScottyDoo]

So this Nobles Buckley's was a test pilot?

[Buster Hyman]

Whatever happened to Bubbles?

http://re3.mm-a8.yimg.com/image/4150282360

[Tarkeeth]

There are a couple of Pet Transport companies.

I rang Dogtrans at 8 am to collect a Welsh Springer from Waverly in Meb.
Phone call around mid day saying he was in their care and would be in YSCH at 8 that night on QF.

Phone call around 6pm from Dogtrans in SYD to say they had seen him in transit and he was ok. Thats real customer service.

When I collected him the only complaint was that he wasn't given a in-flight mag. (sorry)

Way back in 58 Meb traffic put a very pregers airport puttytat in the hold of a 1049 to Per.
Heard nothing from Per........

About 6 weeks later Mum and 5 kittens arrived back!

[Douglas Mcdonnell]

Well put Buster. Jeez I laughed my head off when I saw this picture!!. The likeness is amazing.

cheers DM

[hoggsnortrupert]

Wow, don't you like democracy:
I mean a Chimpanze becoming President! only in America.



Well done BH, I split my self.:ok:

[Jenna Talia]

I've got a better one...

A terrorist suspect and ex Guantanomo Bay inmate being allowed to run for election in today's NSW state elections. :ugh:

JT

[Much Ado]

Great picture of whathisnames pet monkey...but this thread has clearly run it's intended course and is now branching off into, hitherto, unchartered directions...'click'.