Desperate search as dog is lost at airport

A FAMILY from Durban are desperately searching for their much-loved pet dachshund which went missing at the Port Elizabeth Airport on Wednesday evening.

What was supposed to be a fun-filled, three-week holiday spent visiting family and attending the SA Surf Lifesaving championships at King’s Beach this weekend has now turned into a major search for two-year-old Abby.

Mother of two Tanya Woods, 45, of Cowies Hill, said Abby had been brought to Port Elizabeth in an airline dog crate on an SA Airlink flight.

“When we arrived we were standing for a very long time waiting to receive our dog,” Woods said

“We kept asking them to please give the dog to us because we could see her in the cage by the runway, but they took so long.”

Woods said airport staff had then told them the dog was missing. “They came to tell us that the door of the cage was loose and our dog got out and ran away.

“They said the people [airport staff] saw it running, but they didn’t react because they were scared. I really wish they had reacted. At least we would have seen it and would have been able to do something.

“What is sad is that she is a sausage dog so she can’t run very fast.”

Woods said she believed airline staff should have checked on the crate as the flight had been a turbulent one.

Woods said they felt as if they had lost a family member. She said her 15-yearold daughter Kaitlyn was especially upset.

“We are devastated. We have lost a family member and a big part of our life is missing. We are really shattered.

“The dog belongs to my daughter. She is her companion. They are always together.”

Woods described Abby as a beautifully calm dog.

A search for the dog has been organised by the airline and the family is offering a reward of R1 000.

Airports Company of South Africa spokeswoman Luthando Kekana confirmed that the dachshund had escaped from an apron aircraft parking bay.

“Port Elizabeth International Airport fire and rescue services are being deployed and are assisting the ground handler and the owner to search for the dog and to ensure its safety,” she said.

SA Airlink spokesman Tlali Tlali was unavailable for comment.