The Responsibility Project^®. Exploring what it means to do the right thing

Pets on a Plane: Going to the Dogs?

42 Comments

January 12, 2010 by Kathy McManus

We are a nation of pet lovers, pondering responsibility. Should we clone them? "Rent them":http://www.responsibilityproject.com/blog/post/renting-a-dog-barking-up-the-wrong-tree/? "Pay dearly to extend their lives":http://www.responsibilityproject.com/blog/post/mans-best-friend/?

Now the fur is flying about another pet peeve: with the exception of service animals, is it irresponsible to bring your cat, dog, bird or rabbit along in the cabin of an airplane when you travel?

The Canadian Government is considering banning pets as carry-ons, saying passengers’ lives are at stake. “It’s a public health issue for air passengers and crew who may have asthma or severe pet allergies,” said a Lung Association spokesperson. Pets provoking asthma attacks at 40,000 feet is “a huge deal,” said a respiratory specialist. “The airlines need to ask themselves which are more important, the people or the pets.”

“It’s time to banish Fluffy and Fido to the cargo hold,” trumpeted a newspaper editorial.

But not without a dog fight. When U.S.-based Southwest Airlines announced this year it was welcoming onboard creatures instead of banning them, owners of flying felines and travelling Terriers proclaimed “Hooray!” But a howl went up from other customers. “Have you lost your minds?” one asked. “This stinks. Literally,” wrote another. “You have made planes peanut free if a customer states that they have an allergy,” one person wrote, “so I think the only fair thing to do is to set aside pet-free flights.”

Flight attendants with pooper scoopers, someone wondered? “I’ve had more bad flights from crying babies or kids kicking my seat,” another stated. One allergy sufferer took issue with others. “Whenever I encounter something that triggers one of mine, I’m prepared for it. It’s called ‘personal responsibility’ and more people should consider practicing it.” An opponent countered, “To the poster who advocated “personal responsibility” on the part of allergy sufferers—how about some on the part of pet owners?”

Tell us what you think: Is it irresponsible to bring a pet onto a plane? On flights where pets are allowed, who should bear more responsibility—pet owners or allergy sufferers?

42 Comments

What do you think? Leave a comment

• January 13, 2010 by Richard Lewis

  Leave kids/slash/children home also. Not all kids - just those that seem that they live in "My World" and does not include others. And if that is the reasoning - No One under the age of being detained should be let on an airplane. And their parents should be detained Also. Whinning, yelling, crying kids !! The Suffering of the world does not need Spoiled Brats - at any age.

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  • February 16, 2010 by Kristen

    To those who put pets in the same category as children - you must be out of your minds. Pets are not people, not even close. It's ridiculous.

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• January 14, 2010 by Jody Gerst

  I have alergies, asthma and a Yorkiepoo. I have traveled on planes with my dog a number of times and have always had positive experinces. In fact, I know we (my dog & I) have contributed to the quality of our fellow passengers experince. My puppy has helped to quite more than one crying kid to the delight of parents, other passengers and flight attendents. The airlines should pay us to bring our pets on board!

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• January 14, 2010 by Cheryl Butchko

  I think pets should be allowed everywhere children are. I work hard to make sure my pets are socialized and well trained. Why should I pay for the mistakes of irresponsible pet owners? It's like telling everyone with a car they have to pay for everyone else's speeding tickets! Yeah, that would fly well..... It's a basic of behavior modification that works best. Reward the behavior you want to see and you will see it more.

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  • August 7, 2010 by Anne-Marie Gouhier

    ABSOLUTELY Pets are much behaviour than some kind of children who do not have any training back home!!

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• January 14, 2010 by Dhana Shrestha

  I am a pet lover. Why can't we have some airplane that are pet free and other are not so both people who have asthma and people who loves can enjoy the flight. But it is not only the pet that can be fatal alergy there can be other things in the plane. Just a thought.

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• January 15, 2010 by Nancy Belet

  Why not have a pet section like they used to do when they had a smoking section. That way people who like pets can walk to the back of the plane and enjoy seeing them.

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• January 15, 2010 by Francesca Tabor-Miolla

  If you ever saw the way and the conditions that an animal i treated in 'baggage' you would never allow your pet to travel in the back of a plane again. It is cold, dark beyond belief, absolutley frightening for the animal...and some even die due to the cold or the heat. I love and treat my animals as I would my children? Crazy only to those who do not know or have the unconditional love of an animal.

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  • July 21, 2010 by Charlda

    I absolutely agree. No one who truly loves their animal (and I do) would ever subject their pet to traveling in the hold of the plane. I'd stay home first. Why can't there be advertised "pets allowed" flilghts, a certain number each week, and passengers would know in advance which type of fliglht they are on.

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• January 16, 2010 by Irma Carrillo

  I'm extremely allergic to cats. Preparing for my pet allergy is my own responsibility. If I'm on a plane with a cat in the cabin, then I should have my allergy pill and asthma meds ready and I should be able to request a change of seat due my allergy. The cat owner cannot prepare for my allergy, any more than I am capable of being aware that my own personally provided peanut product may be a problem for a stranger sitting near me in a plane or anywhere else. As it is, I can take better care of my pet if it is with me than if it is in a cargo hold, where sometimes horrible things occur to pets. My pet is my family member as well. If I can sit near noisy ill-behaved children or crying babies, you can sit near my dog.

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• January 17, 2010 by Denice Lapointe

  I have a service animal and it is a hypo allergic dog meaning she has real hair. I go no where without her. I wanted a service pet that I wouldn't have to worry about someone saying thier allergic ect....There for I am pleased with Southwest ruling. I feel that it is the person right to bring thier child as it is thier pet. Its not cheap so if they can pay for it they should be able to travel. There are far worst things that has and could happen on a flight then having a pet aboard. Maybe a trained pet aboard could help service the airlines with terrorisom problems. We are slowly becoming the country where are right are fading slowly. This to me is really something minor being made into something big .

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• January 19, 2010 by T Iris

  If way over 1/2 of the US owns a pet, then majority should rule. Pets should be allowed on planes and trains as long as they are totally supervised and well-behaved and paid for. And size should not be a discrimination either. Further, If the owner is willing to buy a seat for their pet, they should be able to. I agree with the person on there should be a section in the plane (and train) that allows pets. And/or portion some of the flights on a route to allow pets. That way people who have a problem with it either dont sit in that section or don't take the "pet flights". Big dogs could even be considered air marshalls!

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• January 19, 2010 by susan pautler

  If you know a certain airline allows pets to travel onboard, then it is your decision as to whether you purchase a ticket or not. If the agency is loosing money because of people going to a pet free airline then let that airline change it's policy if it sees how their customers are leaving them.

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• January 20, 2010 by Dunia Arsuaga

  This is unbelievable...and I agree with Richard Lewis. I own a small dog and travel with her often...many pet owners that i've seen traveling with their dogs are quite respectful of others when they travel with their dogs. I travel with mine because i don't trust animal hospitals nor do I want to spend the high costs associated with leaving her in a pet hotel. I think the biggest issue is dealing with crying children and those that kick the seats...and i don't see parents reprimanding their kids for that annoying behavior. One option for those with allergies is to reserve certain seats for folks with pets...and if someone has an issue sitting next to a pet (be prepared with your allergy medicine or request to be moved)...I don't think it requires regulations to ban small pets from traveling in the cabin. That's just ridiculous.

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• January 21, 2010 by GoPetFriendly

  Am happy to see that many of the comments are positive. I understand that many people don't like pets, or people with pets. But that's not a reason to leave pets off of a plane.

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