Readers should note that as result of protest from animal rights organizations this band was lifted in 2004. American Airlines now requires holding cages for dogs to meet certain specified requirements.
As of August 2002, owners of certain breeds will unable to ship these dogs in cargo for transport to their destination. The breeds blacklisted include pitbulls, Rottweilers and Dobermans pinschers, and any other dog that exhibits aggressive behavior.
This policy change came about as result of chewing damage caused by a pit bull after it escaped from its cage in the cargo area on a July, 2002 flight from San Diego to New York. According to airline officials, after the plane landed, ground crews discovered the pit bull running loose in the cargo area, and found destruction to the cargo hold door, a hole chewed in the bulkhead, and a garden size electrical cable chewed through. During the flight, the back up the radio and some navigational equipment stopped working, and subsequently the plane was put out of commission for repairs for nine days.
People opposing the ban says the problem was due to the crate the dog was placed in, and not the dog, and that American should upgrade standards for the crates people use for transport in cargo rather than banning certain breeds. in a letter to America Airlines, The American Kennel Club called the airlines new policy an overreaction, and ignores the fact that aggressive or dangerous behavior is not breed-specific.
Contact Info:
Animal Behavior Counseling Services, Inc.
2288 Manning Ave.
Los Angeles, California 90064
Telephone: (310) 474-3776
Nationwide: (800) 605-2227
email