AIRPORT TRAGEDY- PLEASE READ AND SHARE - Page 1

I WANTED TO SHARE THIS STORY FOR ALL PEOPLE WHO SHIP/RECIEVE DOGS, TO HOPEFULLY PREVENT THIS HORRIBLE TRAGEDY FROM HAPPENING TO ANYONE ELSE. SO PLEASE READ AND SHARE WITH ANYONE AND EVERYONE YOU CAN.

THIS PAST WEEKEND, I SOLD A YOUNG ADULT GSD TO A PERSON IN CANADA.  BEING THAT THE DOG WAS SHIPPING FROM USA AND INTO CANADA, IT IS CONSIDERED AN INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT SO THE AIRLINES MADE ME REMOVE HIS COLLAR PRIOR TO SHIPPING. I DON'T NECESSARILY BELIEVE THIS IS A GOOD IDEA PERSONALLY.  I TAPED IT TO THE TOP OF HIS CRATE FOR NEW OWNER. THIS NEW OWNER HAD INFORMED ME THAT HE HAD PURCHASED/SHIPPED OTHER DOGS BEFORE, SO I ASSUMED HE KNEW THE RULES OF NO COLLARS.  ANYWAY, AS SOON AS THE DOG ARRIVED AT THE CANADIAN AIRPORT, HIS NEW OWNER OPENED HIS CRATE OUTSIDE THE CARGO BAY, SO HE COULD POTTY HIM BEFORE DRIVING HIM HOME. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE DOG GOT AWAY FROM HIM IMMEDIATELY AND RAN OFF. NEW OWNER AND SEVERAL BYSTANDERS TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO CATCH THE DOG, AND HE BOLTED OUT ONTO THE FREEWAY PARALLELL TO THE AIRPORT AND WAS HIT/KILLED.  BOTH MYSELF AND HIS NEW OWNERS ARE HORRIFIED, AND I AM DEVASTATED THAT MY BELOVED YOUNG BOY WHO I THOUGTH WAS GOING TO A WONDERFUL NEW "FOREVER HOME"  WAS SO TRAGICALLY KILLED OVER SUCH A STUPID THOUGHTLESS ACTION.  PERSONALLY I NEVER LET A NEW DOG OUT OF ITS CRATE AT THE AIRPORT AND INSTEAD PLACE THE CRATE INSIDE MY SUV, GET IN AND CLOSE ALL DOORS/WINDOWS AND THEN LET THE NEW DOG OUT OF ITS CRATE, PLACE COLLAR/LEAD ON AND THEN OPEN THE DOOR TO TOILET IT.  I WOULD NEVER LET A DOG THAT DOESN'T KNOW ME OUT OF ITS CRATE IN AN UNCONFINED AREA.  THIS HAS TAKEN A HUGE TOLL ON ME, AND HIS NEW OWNER, AND I FEEL LIKE IF I CAN PREVENT THIS UNTIMELY ACCIDENT FROM HAPPENING TO EVEN ONE OTHER DOG, I WILL HAVE DONE MY PART IN SAVING AN INNOCENT DOGS LIFE. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO TELL ALL NEW DOG BUYERS TO NEVER OPEN THE CRATES OF THEIR DOGS AT THE AIRPORT, AND PASS THIS STORY ON TO ALL WHO SHIP/RECIEVE DOGS.

IF ANYONE HAS ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS/THOUGHTS OR SIMILAR STORIES THEY WANT TO SHARE, PLEASE FEEL FREE!!

I'm so sorry to hear this, this is so horrible. My friend had the same thing, almost, happen. He shipped a retiring female to a friend of the family back east and the guy did the same thing, opened the crate to poddy her, but the new owner actually put a collar on her, however it was not a slip collar and while he was poddying her there was a very large crash in the cargo area, something fell off a pallet I believe, and it frightened her causing her to pull out of the collar and she escaped. Lucky for her animal control found her early the next morning and she was picked up by the new owner. However I think it is much more likely that a situation like this would end up tragically like yours did. It actually caused me to revise the shipping document I email to my clients ahead of shipping, to include this clause

"If you are receiving an older dog bringing treats to meet the dog is always a good sign of friendship unfortunately older dogs don’t always fly as well as puppies and can get a little nervous during the process. They will be fine though as soon as they realize there is a friendly face that knows them and knows their name. This is why it is important to keep the dog's name for at least the first day. The dog will think, "Well they must know me, so maybe I know them."  We strongly advise that you do not take your older dog out of the crate at the airport as there are lots of sudden, strange scary sounds there and you do not want your new dog getting loose from you at the airport. It's best to have someone lift the crate with the dog inside and into your vehicle."

Again I am so sorry for your loss, I hope by you posting this at least one life will be saved.

Barbie

Thanks Barbie, that is the whole reason I did post it, to hopefully save someone elses dog!  I hope many people read this and pass it on.

I am so sorry this has happened. It is horrible!  Due to ignorance on the part of the new owner this poor dog has lost his life and everyone involved is devastated. It is inconceivable to me that someone would take a dog that he has never met, just been through a new, not so pleasant experience on an airplane and let him out of his crate to potty with no collar or leash. I feel so awful for you. My suggestion? Educate buyers by writing specific instructions about what to do with a dog upon arrival from an airplane flight and have them sign something confirming the document has been read. At least they will know what to do and if someone gets insulted, too bad.  Many would think putting on a collar and leash before letting a dog out of a crate to potty at the airport is common sense, but obviously not everyone sees it this way. Such a shame...

That is horrible i have had to dogs shipped through airlines my first was a 12 week old puppy i was orified when i pulled her out she has covered in her own feceis and had to clean her as soon as i got to a safe location.

Awful ... so sorry;  as well as the instructions to buyers ppl have suggested,
is there any way, I wonder, if a letter to the airlines or other communication
with their shipping staff could instruct them so they remind people who are
picking up crated animals ?

That is heart wrenching and very very sad.  So sorry for this mishap.  Nan

And this shows you that even the most secure dogs can get scared and bolt from you. 

Hundmutter- I'm not sure if specific instructions would ever get through to the people who are actually doing the releasing of the dogs to new owners. But good grief, it seems to me that it is common knowledge that you'd not let a strange dog loose in a busy airport! I can assure you that from now on, whenever I ship a dog, I will be VERY specific about what to do, and NOT to do, when they pick up their new dog.

I am very sorry to hear about the loss of a young dog.
It is obvious that the new owner is at false on this one, big time.
Hopefully we all can learn from the comments posted on this thread in order to prevent future new owner mistakes.