The dog was found unconscious upon arrival at the airport
Cause of death: multiple organ failure due to heatstroke
A pet dog that was placed in the cargo hold of an airplane died from heatstroke during a heatwave. The dog's owner complained that they had not been informed in advance that there was no temperature control function in the cargo hold. On the 27th, SBS reported that the pet dog of an informant, identified as A, who had traveled to Jeju for five days and four nights with their six-year-old dog, died in the cargo hold.
Previously, on the 22nd, A departed for a five-day, four-night trip to Jeju with their six-year-old dog. As with the outbound flight, A followed the airline's instructions that any pet weighing more than 7 kg must be checked in as luggage on the return flight from Jeju. Accordingly, A fitted the dog with a breathable muzzle and placed it in a ventilated carrier. However, upon arrival at Gimpo Airport, the dog was found unconscious when removed from the carrier. The dog's body temperature, measured immediately at a nearby animal hospital, was 42.8 degrees Celsius?more than 4 degrees above normal?and the dog ultimately died from multiple organ failure caused by heatstroke.
The website of the airline used by A states that transporting pets as checked baggage during the hot season can have adverse effects on the animal's health. However, A claimed that they had not been informed that the cargo hold of this particular aircraft did not have a temperature control system, which is available in some models. The airline stated that it had processed the check-in procedure with the customer according to regulations and had expressed concerns to A at the time because the dog was wearing a muzzle. The airline also added that, although there is no temperature control in the cargo hold, there had been 27 cases of pet transportation in the same aircraft model over the past week, and no unusual incidents had been reported.
Meanwhile, as the peak summer vacation season approaches, there is a growing trend of people postponing travel plans because of their pets. These individuals tend to regard their pets as 'family' members with whom they share an emotional bond and responsibility. As perceptions change, flights that allow pets and travel programs designed to create special memories with pets are also gaining popularity. However, in some cases, pets are confined in cages and placed in the cargo hold, or are even restricted from boarding entirely, so precautions for pet safety are essential.
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