Air Canada Loses Cat, Sued for $5,000,000

Warning to pet owners. Commercial airlines are unsafe to transport your pets. Each year the airlines routinely kill or loose 5,000 companion pets. Industry changes are desperately needed and pet lovers need to be warned so this doesn't happen to their pet.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact Person: Attorney David Blatte
Telephone Number: (510) 548-7382
Email Address: lawyer@vegan.org

Air Canada Loses Cat, Sued for $5,000,000

A suit was filed on August 23rd, 2002, against Air Canada and Continental Airways seeking damages of $5,000,000 for the loss of a cat. The suit alleges negligence, negligent infliction of emotional distress, fraud and false advertising on the part of the airlines.

Andrew Wysotski and Lori Learmont were moving from Toronto to San Francisco with their five cats. After extensive research and assurances from Air Canada that their cats would be treated like members of their family, the couple placed their cats in airline approved crates and entrusted them to the airlines.

When they arrived in San Francisco, they were surprised to see that one of the crates was completely unhinged, with cat litter scattered throughout the cage. A second crate containing two cats was not damaged, but one of the cats had a broken tooth.

It was the third cage, however, which led to a nightmare for Wysotski and Learmont. There was a gigantic hole in the cage, the door was open, and their cat Fu, who was part of their family for 14 years, was nowhere to be found. After realizing that the cat was probably in the plane area, they asked to be allowed to search the area, but Air Canada was reluctant. After a short seven minute search, they made Mr. Wysotski wait a full hour before looking further, causing him to lose precious time.

For months afterwards, the couple tried finding the cat, going so far as to hire sniffing dogs and to place humane traps. What they found was shocking. Not only were there stray cats all over the airport, we even saw a dog!, said Mr. Wysotski. Unfortunately, although their search continues, they have not found Fu.

The airlines simply do not care about animals. We found out afterwards that although they told us the crates would be hand-carried on and off the plane, they actually placed the crates on the loading ramp. With the wheels on, the crates flew down the ramp, crashing into the ground and opening, allowing Fu to escape.

The couple also learned that incidents like this are common. According to the American Transportation Association, over 5,000 cats and dogs die or are lost every year during the course of airlines.

We brought this suit for two reasons, explains Wysotski. We want Air Canada and the other airlines to learn that animals are important and to start treating them with care. And we want the public to know just how risky it is to transport your pet on a commercial airline. We would never have taken the gamble with our pets had we known. Wysotski now sees it as his duty to educate the public. For more information, visit his websites at www.AirCanadaAnimalAbuse.com and www.AirCanadaBoycott.com.