United Airlines in hot water over undeclared dogs on flights into Sydney and Brisbane
United Airlines has fallen foul of Australia’s strict biosecurity laws by allowing undeclared dogs to travel down under — twice.
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United Airlines has fallen foul of Australia’s strict biosecurity laws by failing to report dogs on flights into Brisbane and Sydney.
The incidents occurred March 2024 in Brisbane and December 2022 in Sydney, after “undeclared” dogs arrived into those ports on United Airlines flights.
In both cases the dogs were assessed and managed by veterinary officers with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), to ensure they met biosecurity requirements including quarantine.
As well as failing to declare the dogs, United Airlines was also found not to have met “disinfection measures” which include procedures to control or kill the insect carriers of human diseases and agricultural pests.
After an investigation, the department said United had voluntarily agreed to meet a number of requirements over the next 15 months, and would be monitored by the department.
“These include revising their internal processes, systems, and training,” said a statement from DAFF.
“The enforceable undertaking is one of the tools used by the department to ensure Australia’s robust biosecurity requirements are met.”
Although the Civil Aviation Safety Authority changed the rules around the carriage of animals on domestic flights in late 2021, strict rules still apply to international flights, including private jet travel.
In 2015, the pets of actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard were seized after authorities learned the then-couple had smuggled Pistol and Boo into Queensland from the US on the private jet of Mick Doohan.
Depp and Heard faced charges for the illegal importation of the Yorkshire terriers but escaped with a fine and an agreement they would release a video apologising for their actions.
Pistol and Boo were returned to the US but only after then-Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce threatened to destroy them.
In another case of international “dog smuggling” American basketballer Lamar Patterson managed to bring his french bulldog Kobe on a Qantas flight from Los Angeles without anyone noticing until they arrived in Brisbane in late 2018.
The dog was seized by biosecurity officers and sent back to the US while Patterson faced a fine.
In the United Airlines’ case, the carrier would have to comply with the enforceable undertaking or risk being taken to the Federal Court.
Deputy secretary for biosecurity Justine Saunders said the department’s goal was to protect Australia from exotic pests and diseases.
“Enforceable undertakings help us ensure long-term compliance with biosecurity requirements in a collaborative and more cost-effective manner that avoids lengthy court proceedings,” said Ms Saunders.
“The unchecked importation of live animals into Australia poses an unacceptable biosecurity risk.”
She said Australia was currently free of many exotic pests and diseases such as rabies, which could be transmitted from dogs to humans.
“The entry, spread and establishment of rabies would have devastating impacts in Australia,” Ms Saunders said.
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