Hot dog in plane row
THE owner of a designer dog left to swelter in near-30C heat at Cairns Airport has demanded answers from the airline responsible for the dog’s care.
Lucy Shearer and her partner Ben Williams were due to board a Virgin Australia flight to Tullamarine Airport in Melbourne after holidaying in Port Douglas when their flight was delayed for 45 minutes.
Concerned for the welfare of her “baby” Ms Shearer approached Virgin Australia staff who assured her pet would be moved to an airconditioned area.
Looking out the window of the lounge, Ms Shearer noticed a baggage trolley laden with animals waiting to be loaded on to the plane.
Their much-loved cavoodle, Frankie, was among them sitting on the tarmac as the Bureau of Meteorology’s radar station at the airport recorded temperatures exceeding 27.7 degrees and humidity peaking at 57 per cent.
“I was so upset when I saw him on the tarmac I burst into tears,” Ms Shearer said.
“I was so shocked given that we were just told that it wasn’t the case.”
After speaking to airline staff a second time the trolley was removed from the tarmac. Ms Shearer said she had made a complaint to the airline but was yet to receive an explanation.
“There should be a process implemented where if there is a delay there should be somewhere for the animals to go,” she said.
“I want Virgin to take responsibility.”
The pet owner indicated the welfare of animals was not a priority and they were treated like baggage.
“When I spoke to a customer service representatives there was no understanding that these animals are part of people’s families,” she said.
A Virgin Australia spokeswoman said the airline “takes the care and comfort of pets very seriously”.
“Following an investigation, Virgin Australia has found that Frankie was not left on the tarmac in Cairns for an extended period of time and our team followed all correct processes,” she said. Cairns Regional RSPCA inspector Laura Harland told the Cairns Post dogs could have trouble regulating their own temperature and the time between onset of heatstroke and death could be short as 15 minutes.