Family of Kokito reaches settlement with United Airlines
United Airlines has an undisclosed settlement with the family of Kokito, the 10-month-old puppy who suffocated in an overhead bin in March during a flight from Houston to LaGuardia Airport.
Sophia Ceballos and her mother, Catalina Robledo, who also had her two-month-old baby with her claimed they were told they had to put Kokito in the overhead bin because the carrier didn’t fit under a seat properly. They claimed they didn’t like the idea but felt pressured into doing what they were told.
The United Airlines flight attendant has claimed she did not know there was a puppy in the carrier. The family did pay for a dog to travel with them on board. It’s also been reported the flight attendant has been distraught over the death of Kokito. Her name hasn’t been disclosed to the media or to the family.
Why would anyone place a puppy/dog in an overhead bin?
The cause of death was suffocation according to a necropsy report. There was no air flowing in that compartment. No one could survive in it. If the flight attendant knew the carrier held a puppy, why would she demand the puppy be placed in an area where she knew it would kill the puppy? Why did the family agree to put their puppy in the overhead compartment knowing their French Bulldog is prone to breathing problems? I don’t think we will ever know why Kokito was placed in this overhead bin without anyone using common sense?
It is a death that could have been avoided, according to the family’s attorney.
“The airline knew that Kokito was on the plane, yet they did nothing to preserve Kokito’s safety,” attorney Evan Oshan said. “The dog was suffocated. It was entombed in an overhead bin. It was treated like a piece of luggage. It was a living, breathing family member.”
Kokito barked for two hours during the flight? Why wouldn’t anyone complain? Why wouldn’t the family want to check on him? Why wouldn’t the flight attendants wonder why the dog kept barking?
If this had been my puppy, I never would’ve have stayed on the plane after being told to place my dog in a “coffin to die a slow, brutal death.” If you have a pet, you must be responsible for your own actions.
United Airlines institutes new pet policies
I’m not sure if we’ll ever really know why Kokito died. Since his death, United Airlines has made changes to their pet policies. They have banned more than 20 breeds who are prone to breathing problems. One of those breeds is the French Bulldog.
United Airlines has also partnered with PetSafe, a program that allows pets to travel in cargo. They’ve also partnered with Animal Humane to help them improve safety measures for pets on flights.
“Kokito’s Law”
I recently had a the Animal Legal Defense Fund on my show to discuss a bill, “Kokito’s Law” drafted by NY Senator Alcantara to guarantee the safety of companion animals aboard a plane.
“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.
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.
The owner is also at fault for allowing United airlines to put kokito in that compartment. What pet owner would put their dog in an unventilated area? Kokito deserved better from everyone. RIP?
I don’t know why any pet owners would put their dog in an unventilated compartment. I don’t pretend to understand it. As a pet owner, you need to ask questions and not assume everyone would know it was not ventilated. If you’re going to put your pup in this dark compartment for a plane ride, ask the flight attendants. It’s your dog and you have a right to know if your dog will be safe!
Plus, dogs should’ve never been allowed in those compartments and flight attendants should be fully aware and inform the passengers.
Tragic.
Thank you.
Thank you.
The owner gets compensated for her own stupidity. What a world we live in!
Kokito didn’t deserve to die and not like that. I’m sorry but the owners are culpable in the death of their own dog. Seems like few people want to take responsibility today making it much easier to blame others. United Airlines is also culpable for knowing a dog was barking in that unventilated compartment for hours and did nothing. All did wrong by Kokito who suffered the ultimate sacrifice. RIP Kokito.
I agree that United Airlines and Kokito’s owners are culpable in his death. It’s so horrible to think of this pup’s last moments as his people were inches away from him who could’ve saved him. Shame on all.
Thank you.
Kokito was such a cute dog. Awful what happened to him.
Kokito was very cute.
Thank you.
United Airlines is responsible for the death of their dog. The flight attendant(s) would’ve heard the dog barking because he barked for hours. They let the dog suffer in an unventilated compartment and they knew it was unventilated. The family deserves the money but no amount of money will bring back the dog. I’d only fly with my dog if he gets to stay with me at my seat. Never put your dog in the cargo area. It’s not warmed or cooled there properly. Too many pets have died in the cargo area.
UA played a role in Kokito’s death but the responsibility for the care and welfare of him comes down to the owner. UA tried to derail a publicity nightmare so they caved and settled. People are all victims today. No one is responsible for their own actions. Blame the other person. The media loves it when this happens. They go after the “perpetrator” as if they’re the devil himself and make them the poster boy for being “bad.”
The mother was responsible for Kokito in this situation. Why did she allow them to put her dog in the compartment? Why didn’t she check on him when he was barking? Shame on her!!
She got her money. I guess they’re all happy now.
Kokito died because her owner didn’t care enough to say no or to make sure she was ok!
RIP Kokito. No matter how you look at it, all of the people involved let you down and made you die. I’m so sorry, sweetheart. You didn’t deserve this. Wake up people! Take care of animals and don’t be cruel to them!