Animals on Board = "Checked Baggage"!!?

First off, please keep signing my petition urging the Canadian government to include animal rights in the constitution. ( relentless, yes, I am)

Here's the url: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/put-animal-rights-into-the-constitution

Secondly, did anyone know that animals, primarily pets, when taken on a plane are considered "checked baggage"!!! Checked bloody baggage. Also, the number of pet deaths during flights due to stress, injuries, illness, or the inability to breathe is so startlingly high, and the airlines won't take responsibility. Surprise surprise!

Have a look at this report, which features only American airline companies http://www.thirdamendment.com/animals.html

And as you can see, Continental is the worst offender.


I couldn't even find a Canadian version of an incident report, so here's one story, of disgustingly, far too many http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2006/06/19/air-canada-pet.html

Relating to the above story is this one, which could be seen as a small victory, perhaps?
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/06/21/pet-flights.html

And this is pretty heartening as well..http://www.rushprnews.com/2009/07/10/pet-airline-to-fly-its-first-pawsengers-july-14

And lastly, this forum discussion board is pretty interesting, and heartening.

http://www.indeed.com/forum/job/flight-attendant/Pets-Cargo-Flying-International-UK/t41164/p2