Delta has banned three breeds of bulldogs from their flights, after learning that a high percentage of dog deaths on their planes were from that canine family,
the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The new no-fly list was created in response to a Delta study that showed that 6 of the 16 pet deaths on the airline were from the bulldog family.
Of the 16 pets that died on Delta flights in 2010, six were bulldogs. A Delta spokesman told the "Atlanta Journal-Constitution" that the airline saw a pattern involving animals that were prone to respiratory issues.
Michael Markarian, the COO of the Humane Society of the United States, called Delta's move a "sensible response". Many short-faced cats and dogs, such as bulldogs, pugs and Persian cats, have difficulty breathing, especially in confined cargo holds.
Other carriers such as AirTran and Southwest only allow pets that can fit in under-seat carriers to fly; American banned snub-nosed dogs and cats last fall.
Delta spokesman Anthony Black told the paper: "The decision to transport animals ultimately comes down to the owner. Our goal is also to continue to work to do a better job of communicating processes and procedures in preparing animals to travel."
Of course a more sure-fire--albeit more expensive--solution for pet owners would be to fly your pet on
PET Airways, which now services
nine cities around the country.
