French bulldog deaths prompts calls for pets to be flown in cabins

Owners of French bulldogs and other at-risk dog breeds are calling on airlines to allow their pets to be flown in the cabin instead of the cargo hold to avoid death by heat stress.

• Beloved dog arrives dead after Virgin flight

Owners of French bulldogs and other at-risk dog breeds are calling on airlines to allow their pets to be flown in the cabin instead of the cargo hold to avoid death by heat stress.

The call follows the death of Bruno, the french bulldog who died on Boxing Day after his owners Neil and Kristina Maccabee, alleged he had been left in the heat on the tarmac at Townsville airport.

Virgin airlines has denied any wrongdoing but an autopsy showed the dog died of heat stress.

Brachycephalic breeds, which include French bulldogs, pugs and English bulldogs have shortened snouts and airways which affects their ability to use panting to cool down and regulate temperature. They are at increased risk of heat stroke as a result.

There have been calls to allow dogs into plane cabins after the death of Bruno. Picture: Supplied

Kristina Maccabee and her partner Neil was left devastated after he was left in the heat on the Tarmac. Picture: Supplied

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Dogs are allowed to fly in the cabin in the US and many European countries.

Mel Marias lost her french bulldog Don eight weeks ago on a flight between Melbourne and Perth.

Ms Marias, a registered breeder, had bought the five-year-old stud for $6000 from his Melbourne owner but he was dead on arrival at Perth airport due to heat stress

“In America these dogs can fly in the cabin and I’m all for that, you pay a similar price for them to fly in cargo as you do to purchase a seat,” she said.

Vet Dr Chris Brown agreed that dogs should be allowed to fly on planes. Picture: Supplied

Celebrity vet Dr Chris Brown agreed given the extreme weather conditions on some routes. “Given our more extreme climate it’s an idea that makes a lot of sense,” he said.

Mark Marrick, formerly of Cessnock, recently relocated from the US to Beijing for work and flew his two French bulldogs Hank and Charlie as well, but Hank died on the October 9 international carrier flight due to severe heat stress.

“We plan on returning and we are very concerned about getting our surviving dog Charlie back to Australia safely given the lack of confidence we have in how airlines handle the transport of beloved pets,” he said.

“We want policy change, they are not cargo, they are family members.”

Hank the french bulldog sadly lost his life on an international flight due to heat stress. Picture: Supplied

RSPCA’s scientific officer Dr Bronwyn Orr said “many airlines in the USA have banned brachycephalic dog and cat breeds from flying in the cargo hold due to the risk’’.

“I think it is important for everyone to realise the risk of these breeds, many airlines have recognised the issues,” Dr Orr said.

Dr Paula Parker, national president of the Australian Veterinary Association, recommended owners of brachy breeds consider other forms of transport rather than flying.

A Virgin spokeswoman said the rules for transport of domestic pets was set by the Civil Aviation Authority, which stipulates carriage in the cargo department with the exception of assistance or guide dogs.

She said the airline stipulates the risk to owners of “brachycephalic breeds as part of the check-in process”.

Originally published as French bulldog deaths prompts calls for pets to be flown in cabins