Airline sued by escaped dog's owners : News-Record.com : Greensboro & the Triad's most trusted source for local news and analysis

(MCT) — A Cumberland County couple has filed a federal lawsuit against United Airlines alleging the carrier failed to help them when their dog escaped before a flight in 2008.

Army Lt. Col. John Weisner and Ronia Weisner filed the federal lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

The couple claims that airline employees obstructed their attempts to find the dog after it escaped from a travel kennel prior to a flight out of Washington Dulles International Airport.

According to the complaint, John Weisner was flying to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on July 10, 2008, and planned to take Jeddah, a purebred Canaan Arabian Desert dog.

When arriving at the airport, he was forced to purchase a new kennel from United Airlines for $105 and pay an additional $250 to ship the dog, according to the complaint. The Weisners allege that United employees failed to make the kennel as secure as they demanded. Before the flight boarded, they were notified that the dog escaped, the suit said.

The lawsuit claims the Weisners were told the dog was contained, but airline employees knew that wasn't true. Employees failed to search or help to search for the dog in a timely and thorough manner, the suit says.

The complaint also alleges an airline employee may have taken the dog, since no cameras recorded the dog's escape and the kennel was not damaged enough to allow for an escape.

The couple has not seen the dog since. They are requesting that a jury determine damages. The Weisners claim they suffered "severe emotional distress and mental anguish" as a result of the incident.

A request for comment from a United Airlines spokesman was not immediately returned Tuesday. The Weisners' lawyer, Joseph Mustian, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

KCinWS

July 7, 2010 - 6:51 am EDT

PLEASE... give me a break. How many RED flags will a judge need to see this is another garbage lawsuit?? Don't get me wrong, I know a family pet can be very special but the circumstances leading to this missing dog defy common sense by the owner. "he was forced to purchase a new kennel from United Airlines for $105 and pay an additional $250 to ship the dog". So what was his original plan? Buy 2 tickets so the dog could fly with him in coach or first class? If the original plan was to take the dog with him the animal should of been in a secured cage suitable for the trip prior to arriving at the airport. "The Weisners allege that United employees failed to make the kennel as secure as they demanded". That's why you plan ahead, you do things yourself and they will be done right. Making "DEMANDS" on people who serve you rarely work. Asking politely for assistance will get you much further. Also sounds as if this family knew the dog might bolt if not properly restrained. I find United not guilty and order this family to attend "wake up to live" classes..

Kit9

July 7, 2010 - 7:47 am EDT

KCinWS. You have OBVIOUSLY never dealt with an airline in this type of situation.

Pat Riot

July 7, 2010 - 9:00 am EDT

I think I've figured out the identity of the United Airlines' employee who lost the dog: it's KCinWS!

Panacea

July 7, 2010 - 10:03 am EDT

Please re-read the article.

United gave these people a very hard time over their dog. A lot of airlines don't allow animals in the cabin unless they are service dogs. They forced the owners to pay additional fees, and buy "their" kennel, then they allowed the dog to escape.

This isn't about an irresponsible dog owner. It's about an irresponsible airline dodging responsibility for property lost through their negligence.

ncobserver

July 7, 2010 - 8:08 am EDT

I believe the 'demands' referenced are to those of United. Airlines continue to pile on fees, and $250 for shipping of a pet is a great deal of money. The least you should be able to expect is for the carrier to provide safe transportation from point A to point B. Had the travelers not planned ahead, they would not have had the medical documentation necessary to transport their pet. And, please keep in mind these are military personnel that are serving our country. These fees are traditionally waived for anyone on duty, as they should be.

newshound

July 7, 2010 - 8:33 am EDT

Maybe I missed something, but I didn't see where these two people were flying to a duty station. The demands were made by the Lt. Col and were not snapped to by the airline. Maybe they should have taken a military hop.

July 7, 2010 - 10:05 am EDT

It doesn't say he wasn't, and since he was going to Saudi, odds are he was on government business.

A lot of military people fly commercial. They do it all the time. Military flights are primarily cargo flights, with limited passenger space, and you can get bumped by a higher rank at any time.

liberaldemocrat

July 7, 2010 - 8:38 am EDT

I thought dogs had to be quarantined before going to a new country.

July 7, 2010 - 10:07 am EDT

It depends on the laws of the country the dog is going to. And a dog with a high ranking US military officer might be exempt.

mudbogger

July 7, 2010 - 10:12 am EDT

Good Grief!!!!!!.....People to need to learn how to read!!!!!!!......The article PLAINLY said HE not BOTH were going to Saudi Arabia and that the AIRLINE demanded the dog be secured. Sounds to me that the airline should help more and have to take responsability.

ida41969

July 7, 2010 - 10:48 am EDT

I was astonished when I read this article. I don't care what airline it was... What I DO know is that it has been too long for this dog owner to have suffered for the loss of his dog. I mean? He had to pay all the extra money for the dog carrier and it was the airlines responsibility to take the best care of the dog. I find this ridiculous!!! I am Truly sorry for the dog owner and for the pain he has suffered for the loss of his dog. My husband and I own two wonderful dogs that we take the utmost care of and if anyone let our dogs out,...I bet it wouldnt be this long before justice was served!!! Our dogs are loved just like our kids were when we raised them, and everyone should treat this just like a kidnapping in my opinion!! It's been since 2008!!!! This is the USA and justice should have already been served on this airline... It doesnt take a rocket scientist to know that this dog just didnt walk out of that cage.. I feel like someone stole him, and I can tell u this " Karma comes to all of us when we do bad things". I mean... C'mon America!!!!!! Clip the wings from this airline and fire all the employees and pay this man for his loss..... It's only right!!!!! Our sympathy goes out to this dog owner and the truth is he will never in his life have another dog like the one he had... This just Really Makes Me Mad!!! Do Something About It!!!!!!

mom4

July 7, 2010 - 12:40 pm EDT

I agree. Had the dog escaped, he would have been found by now. You can't just walk off an airport property into a neighborhood - airports are completely fenced in. Someone stole the dog. I can't believe American Airlines isn't stepping up on this and at a minimum compensating for the fare and cost of the carrier, as well as the cost of the dog. But, go a step further and it's not like they lost someone's luggage; this is a member of their family! They obviously loved the dog or they wouldn't be going through all these expensive steps to take the dog with them. I'm sure once in SA, they would have had to quarentine the dog and that's not cheap either.

It makes me sick that big business feels they have a free pass to act as unethically as they please. I just hope that whoever stole the dog is taking good care of him.

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