United Airlines introduces new PetSafe rules for transporting animalsMay 14, 2018In response to numerous animal-safety related instances in recent months, United Airlines has announced new PetSafe rules for transporting animals in cargo. Effective June 18, more than 25 breeds of brachycephalic cats and dogs will be banned from cargo holds on United aircrafts, including chow chows, bulldogs, mastiffs, pugs, and boxers, as well as Burmese, Himalayan, and Persian cats. Additionally, due to concerns of animal safety during hot weather, United Airlines will no longer accept reservations to ship any animals to or from airports in Las Vegas, Palm Springs, Phoenix, and Tucson between May 1 and Sept. 30 each year. The amended rules also limit the number of connecting cities a shipped pet may be routed through and limits the height of crates to 30 inches. "As we continue our review process to ensure that we are always doing what's right, we are committed to making significant improvements in our program and adhering to the best practices of animal comfort, well-being, and travel on behalf of our customers and their pets," said Jan Krems, vice president of cargo for United Airlines. United's review of its pet handling processes and policies follows several safety-related incidents that took place in its …
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AVMA, United partner to board emotional support animals safely, legally for allMarch 9, 2018The American Veterinary Medical Association and the AVMA Professional Liability Insurance Trust have entered into the emotional support animal-airline travel challenge. United Airlines recently announced a new policy requiring a veterinary signature vouching for the health, behavior, and training of psychiatric service and emotional support animals flying with its passengers. The airline said the policy took effect March 1. The AVMA reviewed United's veterinary health form and expressed concern that the information it requested might not appropriately support the health and welfare of their animal and human passengers—and that it created potential liability risks for veterinarians attesting to them. After collaborating with United, the airline has adopted AVMA recommendations and will be posting a new form on their website that reflects alternate language. The new form will allow veterinarians to confidently report meaningful information to assist United in making decisions about transporting psychiatric service or emotional support animals on its flights, according to the AVMA. Requested revisions include: The form should be completed and signed only by a licensed veterinarian. The original version asked a veterinarian to attest that s/he "is not aware of any reason to believe that this animal would pose …
