Baggage Handler Who Refused To Transport Sick Dog Is Offered Job Back

Lynn Jones with her dogs.
Lynn Jones with her dogs.

Do you think this outcome would have happened without the power of the internet? Not only does she get her job back, but the company is donating money to the Nevada Humane Society!

This women is the kind of employee that any company should want!

— Kenn Bell

RENO, NEVADA – The baggage handling contractor that fired a Reno airport worker in a dispute over transporting an unhealthy dog has offered the woman her job back with back pay, and the company’s president praised her courage to stand up for the animal.

Airport Terminal Services Inc. also will contribute an unspecified amount of money to the Nevada Humane Society over the next three years to help “strengthen awareness regarding the mistreatment of animals,” said Sally Leible, president and CEO of the St. Louis-based company on Tuesday.

Lynn Jones, who had worked more than five years as a baggage handler for ATS at Reno-Tahoe International Airport, said she was fired about three weeks ago when she refused her supervisor’s orders to put the emaciated hunting dog on a plane bound for Corpus Christi, Texas.

Animal welfare workers picked up the animal. It recovered and was eventually returned to its owner.

Jones “was trying to protect the dog, and I think she was courageous in doing that,” Leible told The Associated Press. “I really, truly hope she will come back.”

Lieble said the company would use the incident as a learning tool to educate workers at the 38 U.S. airports ATS serves and renew the company’s “commitment to recognize and report animal abuse of any form.”

Jones said Monday that she was working in the cargo area last month when she saw the dog in a pet carrier. She said its body was covered with sores and its paws were worn raw.

“It was so thin, it made me cry,” she said. She said when she told her supervisor about it, he insisted she load the pointer onto the plane because its paperwork was in order and its condition was none of her concern.

“I kept telling my supervisor, `That dog is going to die if it gets on that plane,'” Jones said.

Leible said would not discuss whether any other employees would face disciplinary action. She told AP she was out of the country last week and returned “to this firestorm” when she came back Sunday.

She said the matter had not previously reached the senior executive level so she asked a vice present to “completely reinvestigate it.”

After talking to all the employees involved, “and with the benefit of some hindsight, we looked at it in a fresh and frank way,” she said.

“There was just a lot of high emotion at the end of the day,” Leible said. “Emotion can be forgiven because you are trying to do the right thing.”

As of Tuesday night, Jones had not accepted the job offer, Leible said.

“We’re trying to bring it to a resolution. We’re not across that finish line yet,” she told AP.

Jones, 56, did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment Tuesday. She said Monday that she didn’t know what she would do if offered her old job back.

“I would have to really think about it,” she said.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
7 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
wanderliscious
wanderliscious
12 years ago

i hope she does go back, if for no other reason than to help other animal…oh and get the back pay 🙂
Thank you for being such a caring and ethical person Ms. Jones!

ReitomWolf
ReitomWolf
12 years ago

I think the owner should have been thrown under investigation. 

Morticia44
Morticia44
12 years ago

awesome!!! God put her right where she belonged

Caroline Bogart
12 years ago

That firestorm was US!!!
 

Kay
Kay
12 years ago

I am certainly glad that Ms. Leible made the proper decision in this matter.  Regardless of whether Ms. Jones returns, one more dog (could have been any animal or human being) was saved and properly tended to, and Ms. Jones can be satisfied that she stood up and held on to her conviction.  She did the right thing.  Perhaps Ms. Leible should see that Jones not only comes back to work, but that perhaps she be on the panel to ensure proper training is done throughout their company.  Of course the benefit of a small stipend for saving the dog would be nice for her too.  I’m sure she is just trying to get over the horror of losing her job while trying to help a fellow creature. 

Anonymous
Anonymous
12 years ago

What a courageous woman. I hope that this story encourages more people to take note and try to do the right thing, even if it gets you into trouble in the short term.

Tamsen
Tamsen
12 years ago

So, the dog is back with its abuser? Not a very happy ending for the dog. 🙁

SUBSCRIBE TO
DOG FILES

Top Posts

More Articles...

7
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x

Why haven't You Signed up For our Newsletter?

Find out why over 8000 Dog lovers have already Joined!

Receive our newsletter, get special deals & stay updated.