In the wake of several unfortunate animal-related incidents, United Airlines temporarily banned all pets from their flights while they reevaluated their PetSafe travel policies.
Yesterday the company released a list of 25 dog and cat breeds no longer approved for travel in the cargo hold starting June 18.
The decision came after a French Bulldog named Kokito suffocated in an overhead bin on a flight from Houston to New York in March. The very next day, United accidentally sent a dog to Japan that was supposed to be destined for Kansas. Later that same week, another dog was loaded into the cargo hold of the wrong plane, resulting in the aircraft being diverted.
As expected, the backlash was swift and harsh, with customers boycotting United and petitions calling for radical change to the pet safety policies of all major airlines.
Less than two months later, the company announced they will only fly cats and dogs going forward, no other household pets. Brachycephalic (snub-nosed) animals prone to heat or travel stress such as Pugs, French Bulldogs and exotic cat breeds will be banned from flying in their aircraft cargo holds, “out of concern for higher adverse health risks,” according to United.com.
“Strong-jawed” dogs such as American Pit Bull Terriers and several Mastiff breeds are also on the no-fly list.
Below are the 21 dog and four cat breeds banned from flying beneath the plane – a dramatic increase from the six breeds previously restricted by United:
Dog breeds
Affenpinscher
American Bully
American Pit Bull Terrier/Pit Bull
American Staffordshire Terrier/”Amstaff”
Belgian Malinois
Boston Terrier
Boxer
Brussels Griffon
Bulldog
American Bulldog
English Bulldog
French Bulldog
Old English Bulldogges
Shorty Bulldogs
Spanish Alano/Spanish Bulldog/Alano Espanol
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Chow Chow
English Toy Spaniel/Prince Charles Spaniel
Japanese Chin/Japanese Spaniel
Lhasa Apso
Mastiff
American Mastiff
Boerboel/South African Mastiff
Bullmastiff
Ca de Bou/Mallorquin Mastiff
Cane Corso/Italian Mastiff
Dogo Argentino/Argentinian Mastiff
Dogue de Bordeaux/French Mastiff
English Mastiff
Fila Brasileiro/Brazilian Mastiff/Cao de Fila
Indian Mastiff/Alangu
Kangal/Turkish Kangal
Neapolitan Mastiff/Mastino Napoletano
Pakastani Mastiff/Bully Kutta
Pyrenean Mastiff
Presa Canario/Perro de Presa Canario/Dogo Canario/Canary Mastiff
Spanish Mastiff / Mastin Espanol
Tibetan Mastiff
Tosa/Tosa Ken/Tosa Inu/Japanese Mastiff/Japanese Tosa
Pekingese
Pug
Shar-Pei/Chinese Shar-Pei
Shih-Tzu
Staffordshire Bull Terrier/”Staffys”
Tibetan Spaniel
Cat breeds
Burmese
Exotic Shorthair
Himalayan
Persian
* Including mixed breeds
The airline also revealed a new partnership with American Humane, “to improve the well-being of all pets that travel on United.” According to a company spokesman, a decision on whether to implement restrictions for pets traveling in the cabin is pending further investigation.
To learn more about the improved PetSafe standards taking effect on June 18, click here.
H/T to People Pets
Featured Images via Facebook/United