An Oregon family is in mourning following the tragic loss of their loved one at a Hawaii airport. Similarly, four-year-old French Bulldog Frank was waiting to board an Alaska Airlines flight in Honolulu, bound for Oregon. The Engelgaus were returning to Oregon from Hawaii on Sunday, and they had three dogs: Frank, his sister Charlie, and Fawn, a Beagle-Chihuahua mix that was 15 years old.
In the airport, the system of strict regulation connotations on traveling with pets gave them a check. The family was not allowed to take the dogs out of their carriers, except at some pet relief areas, unlike Portland International Airport, where travelers can carry their pets or keep them on short leashes in parts of the airport.
With the mercury rising into the 80s, the Engelgaus began to get concerned regarding the welfare of their dogs. They gladly took it upon themselves to shelter the animals in the shade and water them during a 40-minute outdoor break.
Once on board, the couple partially unzipped the dogs’ carriers and tried to cool them with safety brochures. They even asked the flight attendants for ice, but by the time it arrived, it was too late for Frank.
In the early hours of the flight, Gary peeked into one of the pet carriers and found Frank unresponsive. Despite their best efforts, the dog had died before the flight ever left the ground.
Alaska Airlines said in a statement that it was heartbroken about the incident and that its crew had adhered to the right procedures for pets on board. The airline industry, in general, has been prone to such tragic incidents, which are comparatively fewer in number. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s reports, six animals died and three animals were injured in the past 12 months while in an airplane.
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The Engelgaus would now like to push forward with a new policy in airlines to avert such incidents. They are optimistic that new legislation could be formulated whereby the odds of survival could improve for pets.
This tragedy underlines further the issues and risks with pet air travel, especially when taking away breeds that, like French Bulldogs, can be more prone to difficulties in breathing.