Death of Pet Dog in Airplane Cargo Compartment Amidst Heatwave, Controversy Over Lack of Temperature Control Function

As the heatwave continues, a tragic incident occurred where a pet dog died while on board an airplane's cargo compartment.

The pet owner expressed deep regret, stating that they were not informed in advance about the absence of temperature control in the cargo area.

According to an SBS report on the 27th, on the 22nd, Mr. A embarked on a 4-night, 5-day trip to Jeju Island with his 6-year-old dog.

Mr. A was informed about the airline's policy that pets over 7 kg must be checked in as baggage upon departure, and he complied with this requirement when leaving Jeju Airport on the 26th, just as he had on the way out.

Mr. A placed a breathable muzzle on his dog and put it in a well-ventilated carrier for check-in. However, upon arriving at Gimpo Airport and taking the dog out of the carrier, it was already unconscious.

The owner, Mr. A, explained, "The panting was so intense that the air inside was suffocating for the dog. The temperature in the carrier itself skyrocketed."

Another owner, Mr. B, described the state of his dog, saying, "Its tongue was hanging out, and its body was completely soaked."

Ultimately, the dog died from multiple organ failure due to heatstroke.

The dog was urgently transported to a nearby veterinary hospital, but its temperature was measured at 42.8 degrees Celsius, over 4 degrees higher than normal. The dog eventually succumbed to multiple organ failure caused by heatstroke.

Mr. B expressed his shock at the suddenness of the situation, saying, "We were having a good time, and then it happened in almost just a 2-hour span."

The airline’s website, which Mr. A used, states that checking in pets during periods of extreme heat may adversely affect their health.

However, Mr. A claimed that he was not informed in advance that the specific aircraft's cargo hold lacked temperature control features found in some models.

Mr. A expressed frustration over the lack of information, stating, "How can I look up which models have temperature control for checked baggage when I don't even know what model I'm on? It makes consumers ignorant and leads to such erroneous choices…"

In response, the airline stated that they followed procedures with the customer according to regulations and expressed concerns to Mr. A about the dog wearing a muzzle during check-in.

They also explained that while there is no temperature control feature in the cargo area, there have been no issues reported in the 27 cases of pet transport conducted on the same model in the past week.

Image source: Reference photo for understanding the article / gettyimagesbank