Story Archive

Not So Safe

Janet Sinclair wanted to make sure her cat Alika and dog Sedona got the best treatment possible. So, when she flew from San Diego, Calif, to Boston, Mass., she used United Airlines’ “PetSafe” program, which guaranteed personal handling in climate-controlled conditions, and a promise that animals “never will be exposed to temperatures greater than 85 degrees for more than 45 minutes.” Instead, United allegedly left the animals sitting on the Houston, Texas, airport tarmac for three hours at temperatures of up to 94 degrees. When they arrived in Boston, “Sedona was in full heat stroke,” Sinclair said. “She was dying, literally, right in front of me.” A vet was able to save the dog, and confirmed the issues were caused by hyperthermia. “We offered to compensate Ms. Sinclair by fully reimbursing her vet bill,” United Airlines said in a statement, “but unfortunately she declined to accept the terms of the agreement.” The terms Sinclair declined? United expected her to sign a non-disclosure agreement so she would be unable to tell anyone about the incident. “I still want to be reimbursed,” she said after going public. “But I’m not going to be quiet.” (MS/KNTV San Jose) ...She should look closer at the fine print, too: it allowed them to stake her on the tarmac at 94 degrees for four hours too.