Fliegen mit Hund?

Flying with AIR FRANCE
This is "Yazoo", my funniest, cheekiest, most characterful, most loveable and most trusting Briard. She is the only one of the gang that I believe is capable to make a flight in a kennel box in the cargo compartment. That is why I decided in fall 1999 to have her join me to my trip to Canada and the United States. In Canada I would live with friends who have two daughters of "Yazoo", in the States with other puppy owners. So I booked with AIR FRANCE: "Yazoo" in the cargo compartment and my Yorkie girl "Gizmo" as dog in cabin. Planned was vacation from Aug. 4th to Sept. 1st, 2000 with some shows in both countries and with the Rassemblement and National Specialty 2000 of BCA (Briard Club of America). The trip to the States should also take place by flying.

Departure Vienna
Besides my own two dogs I took an 8 weeks old Briard girl from a breeder with me; this puppy should fly to her owners in the States.
The flight was going from Vienna to Paris, were I had to switch plane. Before taking off I was told that both the dogs had been loaded and that the were calm. Wow - FINALLY vacation!

Switching in Paris
Getting on the plane in Paris I called attention that besides "Gizmo" being with me as dog in cabin, two more dogs should be in this flight and that this need to be checked. Shortly before taking off I was assured twice that the dogs were on board.

Landing in Toronto
Then after seven and a half hours the relieving words of the captain: in some minutes we are going to land in Toronto; sunshine and summer temperatures - in contrary to Europe. I was at the first destination of my long awaited vacation.

Where are my dogs
While leaving the plane a stewardess said to me that in few minutes I would see my dogs. But what happened then and would furtheron happen, I had never in my life expected, this vacation turned to be no vacation but a horror trip: Just at the gangway I was asked by a woman from the ground crew if I was Mrs. Friedl and I said yes, with the remark that now I would be brought to my dogs. The answer hit me like a punch: NO, YOUR DOGS ARE IN PARIS ..... Everyone will imagine what went on in me now.

AIR FRANCE forgets dogs in Paris
That also my luggage had been left behind in in Paris, did not interest me in any way, but it seemed to be the special attention of the airline, as they had only interest to hand over 150 CAD to me, so that I would be able to buy the most important things until my suitcases would arrive. Concerning information about the dogs they just ignored things after they had told me that for sure the two would be taken care of properly.

Helpful canadian authority
The only thing I had to do before checking out was to show the paperwork of the dogs, which I had with me, to the responsible authority (Canadian Food Inspection - Agriculture Canada), so that everything would be fine for taking over the dogs that should arrive the next day with the same flight in Toronto. I went through that procedure; the employees were very considerate and assured me their regret about these circumstances. They let me know that I could count on each and any assistant on the next day, so that everything would be arranged fast.
Thereafter I had to go to the office of AIR FRANCE to receive a "ref. number" with which I would be able to take over the dogs and the luggage. Further on a hired car was would be ordered by AIR FRANCE to pick me up at the house of my friends on the next day, get the dogs and bring me back again. A phone call to abroad was refused to me, they said that out of technical circumstances it would not be possible to make long distance calls. They just aspired to get rid of me as fast as possible. Oh well, luckily I had my cellphone with me and was not dependant on this incompetent ground crew.

AIR FRANCE does not know where the dogs are
As soon as I was out of the airport I called the breeder of the puppy as well as "Yazoo's" breeder in France. As well from Austria as from France people tried to get information about the dogs at the airport in Paris. Through the american Briard-List we informed and asked for help. AIR FRANCE in Paris excelled by either nobody picking up the phone or incompetent people were replying the calls. That was how it continued till deep in the night. NO information about the dogs - we did not even know where they were, at the airport, in a boarding kennel or what so ever.
The statement on the next day, that AIR FRANCE did not know if the dogs were on flight #358 made us thinking. They said there was only a telefax telling that both the dogs should be loaded. My Canadian friends and I decided to not take the hired car as we feared that this one would probably not be big enough for the kennel boxes and the luggage; they would bring me to the airport with their van and would helpfully assist me. A call at the hire company brought up that AIR FRANCE had not even ordered a car. What a reliable airline - really to recommend!

Veterinary on call
Together with the woman who should pick up the puppy, my Canadian friends decided that we should consult a veterinary after the arrival of the dogs, to have them checked as a precaution. A friend of the woman to pick up the puppy would be on call.

Arrival of the dogs
Finally arrival of flight #358 from Paris. We were brought to the luggage counter, my suit cases were already there, but not the dogs. Then puppy barking ........ and an awful stink before the dogs were in sight. The look that was "offered" to us made our blood freeze in the veins: "Yazoo" was lying apathetic in her crate, with sunken eyes that stared into space, nearly no breathing, she did not know me. The puppy did not make a poor impression, it was happy when we spoke to it. The crate of "Yazoo" abounded completely in dirt, the one of the puppy not that much.

"Yazoo's" condition did not change much, so the veterinary continued to giver her IV. Slowly some life came to the girl and with helping hands she could finally get up after about two hours and make some not too safe steps on her wobby legs.

Authority proceeds
Meanwhile the employees of Canadian Food Inspection took photos of the crates, the dogs and the veterinary attention as well as noted dates for their report. From side of this authority an investigation against AIR FRANCE will be started because of neglecting the dogs. In Canada and in some other countries animal care is written in big letters: offence against it is being punished with high fines but also with jail.

Veterinary report for activities of authority
After having finished his treatment the veterinary had to give his report, prior he got my statement about watering and feeding the dogs: The puppy had had water after the departure from Vienna and had for sure been taken out of the crate. "Yazoo" had been without water for about 40 hours (although I had fixed a water bowl at the inside of the crate door, where it still was after arrival in Toronto. Easily water could have been offered from outside) and for sure she had not been taken out of the crate, had been lying in there for about 40 hours. She had lost between 30 and 50 % of her body liquid. Ahead of departure from Vienna on Friday the puppy had been last time fed on Thursday afternoon, "Yazoo" on Thursday morning. The puppy food that had been attached to the crate was not touched and still fixed to the crate. Both the dogs had not been fed, the excrements in the crates were the rest of digestion since Thursday. According to the statement of the veterinary "Yazoo" would have only survived another 2 to 4 hours.

Please viste also Yazoo's homepage Recovery
"Yazoo" has finally recovered speedy. For one day she was only given water with salt, sugar and carbonate - a cup every hour. Since no problems such as throwing up or diarrhea appeared, she could have boiled rice with salt, sugar and carbonate on the next day, again small portions, and finally on the third day she could have added kibble food to the rice.

Consequences
"Yazoo" turned to be five years old just two days after her arrival in Canada, a very special day for me, since it had really been 5 to 12 for her. It was a blessing in disguise and I have drawn my consequences from this experience: I will stay in Europe with my dogs, I will make my trips - like I did already before - with the car. From time to time one has heard about forgotten dogs/animals or ones that arrived in the wrong location, but who ever believes that it happens to oneself?!

The outcome for us out of AIR FRANCE cause
Through the fault of AIR FRANCE the following things turned up in my vacation, which was no vacation: A big veterinary bill (which I have of course paid with pleasure!!!), the first shows in Canada expired. The flight to Philadelphia expired as well, furtheron the entered shows in the States. I visited my American friends, but I went there with the car and had to live in a hotel. Back in Canada no feeling for vacation turned up, because slowly "Yazoo" had to be prepared to get into a crate again. Finally I had to decide for a premature departure and therewith the further shows in Canada also expired. I was scared to switch plane in Paris, so I flew up there, checked out with "Gizmo" and "Yazoo" and went by car and train - spread over several days - back to Austria. These days then turned to be a bit of relaxing and recreation for my dogs and myself.

Upshot
Until now there is no word of regret from side of AIR FRANCE, no excise, just nothing towards me personally. Also the transmission of this happening in the Canadian TV did not bring a reaction, just lapidary the comment of a manager to the reporter, that she should tell me, that there would be an arrangement in some way. Another phone call at AIR FRANCE in Canada made the one on the other end hang up when he heard my name. Back in Vienna I have authorized the lawyers' office where I work; we will see how things continue. In some weeks we will have checked if "Yazoo's" kidneys have come to harm; I hope not. But, anyway, I have gained a real big victory: YAZOO IS ALIVE - no show result can ever come close to that win!