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Reward for missing dog at Washington Dulles
If you happen to be riding around in one of the Moon Rovers at Washington Dulles in the next couple days, keep your eyes peeled for any four legged creatures running around the tarmac.John and Ronia Weisner, two owners of a dog that was traveling with John, an active member of the armed forces, en route to Saudi Arabia, were horrified to find that their pet was lost at
The culprit, they suggest, is the substandard cage that the FAA required them to use -- apparently the new kennel that they purchased had to have screws in it but was still not structurally sound enough to handle the baggage system.
But how did the dog escape? Once the dog and cage went down into the luggage system, it appears that something struck its side and the dog broke free. As to whether the dog could have broken itself free, the Weisner's state:
"There's no way, no something hit it, bended it inward."
Now, in an effort to find the missing animal and restore peace to John and Ronia, the two have offered a $2500 reward, while United has put up another matching $2500. The pair have been scouring the tarmac with escorts looking for the dog and apparently have still yet to find the animal.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 13)
Bernadette Jul 16th 2008 2:06PM
Why would he be taking the pet on tour with him? Is the animal specially trained to detect bombs, etc. If so, why weren't they transported via military transport? Makes little to no sense to me, but I feel for any pet running loose around an airport with all the noise and confusion.
Retired Navy Jul 16th 2008 2:45PM
The military member and his family are reporting to Saudi Arabia for a TOUR OF DUTY!, not for a site seeing tour. They were taking a member of their family, their dog, with them. This is totally irresponsible on the part of the airlines. It's bad enough we are forced to fly on chartered flights, but most of the commercial carriers don't care about anything but stuffing the plane as full as possible to squeak every nickel from their charter. If you think regular flights are tough, imagine these charter flights, because most are worse than you can imagine. I won't fly a commercial flight with United under any circumstances, and chartered flights with them only if there's no alternative.I've even flown a C-5 as "cargo" rather than take a United charter.
Dingo8MyBaby Jul 16th 2008 2:50PM
So this is their fault, Bernadette? Why don't you learn a little about military travel before you start assuming "military transport" moves families. And it's none of your business WHY they were taking the dog with them... again, so that makes this their fault?
willow Jul 16th 2008 4:36PM
Um..have you ever been stationed somewhere else in the military? My husband and I just moved to Germany because of the air force and we brought our pet with us because she's a part of our family. There is no military transport for pets. They fly in the same plane as you or you can pay out the rear for a commmercial transport. People move all over the world doing their country a service and they want their families with them...pets included!
AF Girl Jul 16th 2008 4:40PM
Bernadette you're an idiot. He's PCSing (A military move) He's not deploying. He's moving over there with his family and his DOG is part of his family. I certainly wouldn't leave my pets. We've moved 14 times in 20 years.
Laura Jul 16th 2008 4:41PM
This is a perfect example of the reduction in quality of the cage manufacturers who are using thinner plastic and charging the same amount of money for the kennel. We have a canine training facility for drug dogs, mold dogs, termite and bedbug dogs, and see this. Be careful to check the strength of the carrier before purchasing, and I hope the serviceman gets his dog back, our prayers are with them.
emily Jul 16th 2008 5:02PM
What do you mean WHY would he take him? Active duty is transferred overseas all the time - the tours could be 3+ years! I personally would NEVER EVER put my dogs in cargo but I feel for those who have no choice and are responsible enough to not just give their animals away.
Me Jul 16th 2008 5:17PM
Military personnel fly civilian airliners especially if they are flying from their home to a central location in the US where they may take a charter civilian flight. They rarely fly on military flights unless they are on a mission. Why was the dog going? Not sure on that one. It sounds like the dog was flying with the friends. In any event, it is not a good idea to fly a pet in the luggage hold. Remember all the animals Delta and American killed because they suffocated in the extreme heat while the plane sat on the tarmac. I just hope the dog did not get crushed by the equipment.
tmussman1970 Jul 16th 2008 6:02PM
Not all travel for the military is done by military transport. All of our travel was commerical. I mean would you like to fly for 16 hours with no food service and or bathrooms, sitting in a jump seat? You move and sacrifice alot being a military family and shouldn't have to give up your pets everytime you move. Instead of critatizing them you should be thanking them for all they have done for you and your country. What have you done for the US lately? My quess is whine.
T Jul 16th 2008 6:33PM
In the original poster's defense. If you are not familiar with military life, some civilians might not think that the soldier was being stationed there. She probably thought he might be doing war time duty there, though we are not at war in Saudi Arabia. There is no reason to attack her, she was just wondering why he was taking the dog. A simple reply to the fact that he was being stationed there, and the whole family was going would have been quite nice. I also saw nowhere in her post that she blamed the person for losing his own dog. Again, she just wasn't clear on the facts, as the article is not clear on the facts.
On the subject of the article, I hope they find the dog and when it is found, whoever finds it should deny the reward. It would be nice if a person would just return the dog out of kindness, not motivation for money!
studiotoki Jul 16th 2008 6:55PM
Don't you just love it when idiots ask stupid questions???? Referring to Berni. There are many reasons why a soldier would take a civilian flight instead of a military flight. But I'm not going to elaborate on it, because there wasn't enough information in the story to cause such a rediculous set of questions.
Can't we just have sympathy for the dog and his owner and stop being *holes and constantly making stupid idiotic comments everytime a story is written! JEEZE.....give your mind a break before it squishes into a bag of smashed *holes.
Ti Jul 16th 2008 7:06PM
Strike one up for another idiot response!!!! LOL!
Jen Jul 16th 2008 7:40PM
It's amazing what little people know about the military. It says they were going to Saudi Arabia...which more than likely means that he was being stationed there. Which means he takes his family, including his wife, kids, and PETS!!! Duh. Saudi Arabia does not equal Afghanistan or Iraq....it's a seperate country, look it up sometime. That would be why he's taking his dog with him. Boo on the airline for losing their dog, that is just horrible. People put their pets in the cargo hold all the time...it's just a matter of responsibility. And how else are they supposed to get their pets from point A to point B? What other option is there really? People really need to think before they type...and make themselves look like uneducated morons...
Jennifer Jul 16th 2008 8:06PM
Just another reason I cant stand united airlines. I refuse to fly them. I would never let them handle my baggage, let alone a family pet. The few times I was forced to use them it was a nightmare. At one stop, along with my little girl, they changed the departure gate over 9 times. The fact that they didnt let the folks know it seem not to matter to them. Over 35 of us missed our connecting flight to Portland and were stranded in San Fran for over 18 hrs. United SUCKS!!!!
Playdi2 Jul 16th 2008 9:21PM
Bernadette, in most instances the military fly the same planes that civilians do. His family (and that includes the dog) were travelling with him to his new station. I think it is horrendous for United to be so careless with a beloved family pet.
jo Jul 16th 2008 10:23PM
I understand your concerns but these servicemembers are away from their families for long periods of time and if the military says they can take along a family pet...more power to them. As a military spouse for over 20 years, getting the military to okay things isn't an easy thing to do. Not only that, but if the airline is asking their fliers to use substandard housing for the animals, how many other animals will they lose and are they going to reimburse the families not only for the animal but for the trauma associated with losing a family member.
Renee Jul 16th 2008 11:13PM
Well you know my dad was in the military and we had a dog who was a part of our family and I would not dream of leaving her cause we were stationed in Germany so I can understand why this family wanted their beloved pet their. I hope they find their dog to me it would be like losing a child.
hotred Jul 16th 2008 11:18PM
Bernadette's comment just shows how unbelievably IGNORANT most of the country is about the military and military service and military families.
unsurprising considering how ignorant the media is as well, but still the insensitivity and hatefulness shown by Bernadette is embarrassing regardless of her ignorance.
kimberll Jul 16th 2008 11:53PM
i think some of the point should be : is how are these animals being treated in there....they slammed something into the cage that bent it in...enabling this dog to escape.were they not aware..or don't care...that they are dealing with LIVE CARGO????
BrotherinAfghanistan Jul 16th 2008 11:58PM
What's the difference why they were taking the dog with them??!!!! This man is active duty military to defend YOUR freedom, and has to relocate his whole family because of it!!!! The airline should have made sure the dog (or any other animal they decided to take for that matter) was OK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!