Due to the recent-making headlines about the tragedy involving a 10- month- old- puppy, Kokito, who died in an unventilated baggage storage aboard a United Airlines flight on March 13th, 2018, New York Senator Alcantara filed a bill in NY on Tuesday, March 20th, to guarantee the safety of companion animal aboard a plane.
Kokito died after a flight attendant told his owner/guardian to place his flight-approved carrier in the compartment. This instruction by the attendant violated company policy. Kokito’s death is not an isolated incident with United Airline flights. In 2017, 18 animals died and 13 were injured on the airline according to the Department of Transportation.
“Kokito’s Law” guarantees a set of pet passenger rights to all companion animals flying with their humans including that they give access to food, water, and medications during a flight, are kept in a climate-controlled environment and are never placed in an overhead compartment. Violators of any of those rights could be fined up to $5,000.
Under current laws, animals are classified as “property,” but the overwhelming majority of Americans consider their companion animals members of their family. The Animal Legal Defense Fund worked with Senator Alcantara to draft “Kokito’s Law.” The ALDF recgonizes that animals are living, sentient beings and more than mere property.
United Airlines has taken full responsibility for Kokito’s death but it is not enough. I applaud Senator Alcantara’s bill so beloved animal companions will be safe on flights. Too many animals have lost their lives and these tragic cases must stop.
Tina Evangelista-Eppenstein is a television talk show host, speaker, writer, and an unabashed animal advocate. Her love for animals and quest for the hard truth is what drives her passion for all things animals. She hosts the television show, “A Close Up Look at Animal Welfare Issues.” She adores her tripawd, Brody, who was a formerly abused pup who lost his leg because of cruelty inflicted upon him. If you’d like Tina to talk to your group or have a story, please email her at tevangelistaepp@yahoo.com. Like https:www.facebook.com/ACloseUpLookatAnimalWelfareIssues and be sure to check out AnimalWelfareIssues.com.
Why would anyone agree to place their puppy in an unventilated storage bin? I’d leave the plane before putting my dog at risk. The owner is at fault also.
I feel the same way. What person would put their dog in the storage compartment? They say she didn’t speak English but you don’t need to speak English to know putting your dog there would result in his death. French bulldogs have a hard enough time breathing. She (owner) should know that.
The flight attendant says she didn’t know there was a dog inside but passengers said the dog was barking. I believe she knew but who knows. The family should’ve spoken up.
It was both their faults.
I know I’d never fly with my pet on United Airlines regardless of whose fault it was. They’ve had too many pet deaths!
I also wanted to say that I believe this is an a good law for pets on planes. They need protection just like us. No pets should ever die on a plane.
It’s long overdue. Pets are treated like cargo since they’re placed in the cargo section. Pets have needed to be treated better than this for too long. It shouldn’t have taken 18 deaths to get a law.
The dog was heard barking for 2 hours!!! Why didn’t anyone check on him???? Why wouldn’t the family check to see if he was ok? The flight attendants had to have heard him. The passengers had to have heard him. Why didn’t anyone complain? Why didn’t anyone speak up for the helpless dog? There’s more to this story. I’m not excusing United Airlines but others could’ve done something.
Plus, if a flight attendant made me stuff my dog in the overhead compartment, I would’ve left the plane. I’d know my dog would die. I couldn’t do that. The flight attendant isn’t the only one at fault.
RIP Kokito. :'( People failed you all the way around.