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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 5 of 13)
julie Jul 16th 2008 4:03PM
What a nightmare for the family! It is like losing one of their children. If the dog is never found, unfortunately, the airlines will not have to pay much in restitution since the laws consider pets "personal property" like a couch.
D. Goldman Jul 16th 2008 4:05PM
I can't believe how stupid, or dumb, the first few women are who posted here!! The point is that someone at the airlines should be FIRED IMMEDIATELY!! Make a public example of the idiot who was responsible for the loss of the dog through the negligence that caused the breach. There has to be a lot of cameras that have filmed the movement of the carrier -- look at the film and start firing -- immediately!! If you're going to work somewhere, in spite of the wage structure, then YOU DO THE JOB, YOU DO NOT PUNISH THE PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING FOR -- QUIT IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT!
Candy Jul 16th 2008 4:16PM
Air Tran let my friend fly her kitty home on the plane with her in a carrier designed to fit under the seat. She did fine all the way home. They were really awesome about it. Since I never had children of my own, my four-footed felines are my "children" and if anything like that ever happened, I don't know if I could recover. Fortunately for me, I don't fly so I'll never have the experience. My prayers and best wishes are with the folks that their puppy gets returned to them.
Tom Jul 16th 2008 4:20PM
A dog missing for an hour gets a story on the Internet. Huh???!!!
Slow news day I guess...
Yo-si Jul 16th 2008 4:21PM
I hope they find the dog soon and in good health. BUT, what were they thinking taking any pet with them to Saudi? It's no secret that pets are not held in any regard at all there not to mention the lenghty quarantine the dog may have to endure upon returning- providing it survives the long flight and lord knows what kind of handling at the hands of Saudi tarmac workers. This couple was acting selfishly to take their dog on such a long relocation to a less than hospitable destination. Yes, accidents happen to pets at airports- A LOT! But these folks were also wrong to take the dog in the first place.
jerry mishler Nov 14th 2008 4:48PM
There is NO quarantine in USA. I have a pet shipping
business 'Action Pet Express' We ship many pets to
UAE and all over the world with NO problems. No need
to break up your family!
There probably was a flaw in the shipping kennel. Many
cheap kinds on the market. It is very important to
check ALL snaps and bolts. It often happens that the
door in NOT latched correctly. I doubt very much if it
was the fault of United airlines.
I would like to know more about the original kennel, and why United wanted to change it....
Hope for the very best
Regards, Jerry Mishler
Yo-si Nov 14th 2008 5:25PM
Congrats Jerry on your clean record. That said, my brother in-law is a pilot for AA and my sister works for UA. I've heard enough 'behind the scenes incidents' to know that I woud NEVER send any animal on a flight in the cargo hold. Honestly with the internet being so readily available these folks would have had to do very little research to know the risks of sending their pet on a flight, especially one that long. If the flight isn't bad enough then you have the ground crew to worry about. The airlines have not cleaned up their act, they're just pretty good at keeping their mis-haps under wraps
Ingrid Newkirk Jul 16th 2008 4:23PM
Please never, ever ship a dog or cat or other animal in the hold of a 'plane. Complaints pour in: animals lost at the journey's start, lost in transit, cats crawling up into the body of the aircraft, lost at journey's end, dead on arrival, injured, overheated, traumatized for life. No matter what the airlines say, the stories are too numerous and too heartbreaking to bear. Only take your animal with you inside the cabin, under the seat or find another way to get him/her there if at all possible.
helema Jul 16th 2008 4:24PM
If anybody took the time to look up the saudia arabian law codes they would find that only service dogs are alowwed in saudia arabia!! this may have been a guard dog or a service dog trained to sniff out drugs and or bombs in an area!! some of those in service house their dogs and treat them like family bu tare still handlers!! mabey they failed to mention this guy was ahandler for a guard or service dog!!
Blake Jul 16th 2008 4:25PM
United is the WORST airline ever! They are never on time and are constantly cancelling flights! And then, they do absolutely nothing to accomondate or help someone out when they have unconvienced them.
Country Jul 16th 2008 4:26PM
Happytobe you obviously don't care for pets and that's ok but you should have more respect for those that do! There is some that don't like to sit next to people that talk a lot or kids that are not exactly being clean or quiet so thing is we can all get along and put up with some things if we are a caring enough person.
I sure hope they find the dog!!
Jim Jul 16th 2008 4:26PM
Bernadette you are a major Butt-Hole! It doesn't make a difference who they are or where they are going. This happens so often because the American work force has gotten lazy and sloppy. If something like that happened where I work the crew would have been fired, end of story.
Jennifer Jul 16th 2008 4:29PM
Eric,
Here's a website listing all the airline "pet incidents" up to June 2008. It tells you which airline, type of animal, cause of death, etc.
http://www.petflight.com/pet-incidents/list
Linda Jul 16th 2008 4:29PM
Why is the family putting up part of the reward??Cough cough the airline lost the dog not the family, SO the airline should cover ALL the costs in finding the dog and getting it the its owner..Lets get that dog found people..
Bill West Jul 16th 2008 4:31PM
The way that they lose baggage, I wouldn't rust them with my dog...my wife, maybe, but not the dog! Besides, if they are not nice to my wife, she will bite them, and then tell them why they deserved it!
rooroo1 Jul 16th 2008 4:33PM
With my experience as an Army wife, my guess is that these folks were moving to a new duty station in Saudi and taking their dog with them for the move. Just becasue he was going to Saudi doesn't mean he was deploying. They do have normal tour of duty to places like Saudi, Kuwait and Egypt. That is why the dog was with them.
Sara Jul 16th 2008 4:36PM
I think the poor dog should remain with the owners under their seat in a small cage...if possible...come on, our dogs are as precious as kids..to pple that only have a dog...it's their baby..I love dogs !
PJ Gallo Jul 16th 2008 4:36PM
Worry about this very time I have to send a dog by airline, Now will not send anymore untill I find out what happened to this poor dog, hope they find her in good health.
Debbie Jul 16th 2008 4:36PM
How typical for the airlines to lose a dog! they lose everything else! what a joke this is. my God I hope the animal is okay. stupid people!
Jerry Jul 16th 2008 4:40PM
I laugh when I read this knowing the system. I have traveld well with my dogs who are show dogs, Like Westminster type gogs. It is a shame people do not know how to take care of the animals when they ship them by air. The only way to ship a dog is in a Vari Kennel, sizes are in the models of: 100,200,300,400,500,600 and 700 series kennels for very large dogs, like Great danes or simular. The cost of these Kennels range from $50 to $ 250. It is a small cost for your animal. Also you can lock them also with a small lock or Zip tie the latch so it will not open. Also an animal is the last to be put on board so they will be first off when unloading the cargo area, also you need to check with all local carriers as to there rules. Mostly dogs are stolen and you can be with your dog, make sure they are put on the plane which they are supposed to tell you by going to you at your seat before the plane takes off, telling you your dog is on board and they hand you a certificate confirming this. In all my travels I feel Continental handles animals the best! Then United then Delta. Trust me on this he was stolen. Like the whippet at Westminster two years ago. If you have questions on dog shipping, get in touch with the AKC at
www.akc.org or westmintser kennel club. Trust me!