Service Member May Have to Pay $30,000 to Fly Her Dog Home
Jeff Edwards April 02, 2018
A U.S. Coast Guard officer says there are no good options for bringing her 220-pound English Mastiff home from a posting in Japan after United Airlines temporarily barred pet transports.
U.S. Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Jennifer McKay says she is facing some serious sticker shock when it comes to finding alternative transportation home for the family pet after United Airlines suspended its pet transportation services. McKay, who is scheduled to start a new assignment in Washington, D.C. learned that bringing her 220-pound English Mastiff home from her current posting in Japan could cost more than $30,000.
“I am a single-parent service member just trying to get home to the U.S. with my dog and my son,” McKay told Stars and Stripes. “The alternative options to do this are financially unreasonable — but my dog is my family and I won’t leave him behind.”
Two years ago, McKay used United Airlines’ PetSafe service to bring her oversized pet companion, named George Jefferson, along to her posting as a liaison to U.S. Forces Japan at Yokota. It cost about $3,200 to ship the dog and his 100-pound carrier at the time. The lieutenant commander had hoped to use this service again, but United Airlines suspended the program last month after a string of headline-grabbing incidents involving the airline’s mishandling of live animals. According to the airline, the company is currently reviewing the beleaguered program and the service will remain suspended until May at the earliest.
Because George Jefferson has an extraordinarily large stature (unlike his 70’s sitcom namesake), most airlines and shipping companies, including the US military, refused outright to transport the Mastiff. Other shipping options required days of travel or numerous stops along the way. All Nippon Airways (ANA) was one of the only viable options for getting her pet home, but then she learned that, all told, the trip would cost $31,000.
Still, there are pet owners serving abroad in an even tougher position than Lieutenant Commander McKay and George Jefferson. Because United Airlines is the only carrier to operate direct flights between Guam and the US mainland, many military families say they are being faced with the very real possibility of leaving family pets behind after their postings in the U.S. territory end.
“This isn’t just me and my pet,” McKay told the newspaper. “There are other service members and DoD civilians in the same boat. I need to find a solution that benefits everyone.”
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This isn't a case of "she should take responsibility for her choices." When she transferred to Japan, pets were allowed to fly on United. There was no warning that the service would stop in the future, therefore, she expected she would be able to fly her dog home when the time came. Also, she shouldn't have to rely on someone else to keep her dog until pets can fly again, and she may not know someone who can keep her dog for her! Her situation is unfortunate, and I hope a solution is found both for her sake, and for the dog's sake. I am prior military, a pet owner, and currently have a few friends who were recently stationed overseas with pets.
I generally agree with the sentiment of taking responsibility for one's choices, but to be fair, this new restriction on transporting pets by air was rather sudden and unexpected. It wouldn’t have occurred to anyone that the way they got their pets there wouldn’t be an option when it came time to return home.
I would add that "United" did not leave larger dogs without a way to fly, the FAA created an unrealistic expectation that dogs could fly in the first place!
She chose a dog the size of a cow, she is responsible for the consequences. Just another trash talking blogger with no class.
"The military should ensure this beautiful pet is transported safely. Shame on them for not having a program for this." Why on earth would the military have ANY responsibility for this? She chose a beast of a dog (bigger than her child apparently) in FULL knowledge of the complexities of traveling with such an animal. It is not her employer's responsibility to find a way to account for her life choices. Would you say the same if she worked overseas for a corporation? “I am a single-parent service member just trying to get home to the U.S. with my dog and my son,” Well, become a full time resident of Guam, pay the going rate, or find a loving home for your dog. These were the options for which YOU accepted responsibility when you chose to transport a 200# breed to a location only accessible practically by air.