Outcry after dog dies in hold
 

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/det...tegory=general

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

That is shameful, pets are members of the family.

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

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??

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

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

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

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!

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.

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/det...tory_id=568172

As the dog owner says:

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.

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.

My pussy always flies first class! :eek:

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.

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.

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:) .

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:

zulu_kilo
 

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

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

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!!"