"I'm not baggage": What could change for animals when flying?
Two cats died, one was injured, the dog was not taken on board - these are events over the past two weeks.
The petition on humanity in the transportation of pets on airplanes signed more than 100 thousand people. In the state Duma, the Public chamber and the Ministry of transport began to discuss changes in the rules of transportation of animals.
“It’s time to remind airlines that they are obliged to respect us and us a lot, just remove your animals next to the sign “I am not luggage” and flood all social networks with this,” writes Maxim Chumachenko, owner of cats who died during the flight New York – Sofia with a transfer in Moscow.
Mm. Chumachenko intends to seek criminal punishment of the perpetrators.
In Moscow, they forgot to load the dog Marvel on the flight, which was flying on a flight Perm - Berlin with a docking in Moscow.
The dog’s owner, Anastasia Stein, said: “Every time I board, I’ll be one of the last to ask, ‘Certify if my dog is on board, if not, leave me in Moscow to wait for the next flight together.’” In Berlin, it turned out that there was no animal on board the plane.
“Your dog is like a suitcase to us. Apparently, they left it in Moscow, the owner quotes the words of the carrier’s employees. The Berlin baggage service contacted the airport, met Marvel at the plane. It took 12 hours to return the animal.
About the urgent situation with the need to change the rules of transportation of pets began to talk at the end of 2019 after the story with the cat Victor.
“Bro is not luggage,” wrote his owner Mikhail Galin. “I/We’re a fat cat,” he tweeted. Michael took the initiative to edit the rules of air transportation of animals.
After the death of two cats, the action became international: people from different countries remove pets with a sign saying "I am not luggage." I'm a passenger.
The airline believes that the responsibility lies with the loaders. “Sheremetyevo Handling provides ground handling for our flights, and the firm fully acknowledges this. Currently, the Sheremetyevo airport administration is conducting an internal investigation, the results of which will be published.”
The carrier proposed to change the technology of servicing cargo and baggage with animals and improve the current standards.
“It would be nice if there was an opportunity to rent a reliable, standard box at the airport for the transportation of animals in the luggage compartment,” says Valentina Jordan, Germany. With automatic water supply, heating and the ability to track the condition of the pet.
Such containers are already being tested by the airline in the United States. They are pink, with a secure door, water and food compartments and GPS to know where the animal is.
The Ministry of Transport, the State Duma, the Public supported the initiative.
State Duma deputy Vladimir Burmatov noted that it is necessary to give people a chance to pay for the excess of the animal, to buy a neighboring place for carrying.
Ah. Stein recalls that there are recommendations of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), but they are often not implemented. “... there shall be special glowing signs on the containers that there is a living being inside. The arrows are top and bottom.”
Airlines must warn that an animal will be on board. "It is unlikely that the airport staff dislike animals so much that they throw containers on purpose."
The petition “My dog is not a suitcase!” has already been signed by almost 100,000 people, Anastasia urges to make information about the location and condition of the animal available to the owner at any time from the moment of registration for the flight and until receipt, as well as to comply with the law of the Russian Federation on the protection of animals: during transportation, their needs for food, water must be met, and protection from harmful external influences must be provided (Article 18).
Source: ria