Flat-faced canines can no longer fly Cathay Pacific.
As of Monday, the airline has banned the so-called brachycephalic breeds due to concerns that certain types of short-nosed animals have an increased risk of breathing problems and overheating due to the stress of flying.
According to the airline’s travel advisory, the ban comes out of concern for the “negative health impact to the animal” caused by air transportation.
Banned are popular breeds such as Pugs, Bulldogs, and Boxers.
Cathay Pacific is the latest airline to ban snub-nosed dogs, following similar moves by Singapore Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Airlines.
The move comes a year after the U.S. Department of Transportation released figures detailing the number of in-flight canine deaths between May 2005 and May 2010. Their results showed that short-faced dog breeds such as Pugs and Bulldogs represented about half of the in-flight dog deaths.
Thomas Lau, Cathay Pacific’s assistant manager of public affairs, said that the move was necessary.
“The ban is to bring Cathay Pacific into line with industry practice because it has been found that there is quite a bit of danger,” Lau said.
While Cathay Pacific’s measures appear to have the animals’ best interests at heart, Hong Kong’s Society for the Protection of Animals (SPCA) believes that the ban is an over-reaction.
“We understand that they must have some statistics that certain breeds of dogs are more problematic in the cargo cabin, but there are cases when air travel is unavoidable, especially when owners need to emigrate,” said Rebecca Ngan, PR and communications manager of SPCA Hong Kong.
“If owners cannot send them in the cabin they may have to abandon them or put them to sleep.”
“A complete ban is quite difficult as it limits the routes where snub-nosed animals can travel,” said Stacy Tucker, director and owner of Ferndale Kennels & Cattery, a Hong Kong pet shipping company.
Tucker echoed the SPCA’s concern that the new travel ban would increase the number of dogs being euthanized or abandoned.
Most of the travelers take with them their pets during traveling to long distances. Delta’s airline is saying right that dog may get breathing problem. However, they can take other steps instead of banning the dog’s traveling. Airline can create a separate part of flight for such problem, where airline can use the dehumidifier or other device to increase oxygen in the air.For cost, they can increase the fares.