When a Kansas family taking a United flight yesterday from Oregon to Kansas City, Missouri boarded their dog on the plane, they probably hadn’t yet heard that United had just killed a passenger’s puppy. When they landed, they went to the cargo area to pick up their 10-year-old German Shepherd, but were greeted by a great Dane instead. Fortunately, the Dane was alive.
Meanwhile, their German Shepherd, Irgo, was still in the air, on a different plane headed for Japan.
The owners of Irgo are, of course, distraught. Apparently, United is trying to tell the family the the great Dane is indeed their German Shepherd, because, well, the paperwork tells them so.
According to CBS:
“I just want to know where my dog is,” Swindle told KCTV. “The fact that we don’t have any idea is the most frustrating part. He could be in Kansas City and we have no idea because the paperwork is all messed up. They have our paperwork here saying that this is the correct dog, but we know it’s not. It’s just horrible.”
According to KCTV, Irgo will see a veterinarian before being put back on a flight to Kansas City. There is a chance that Irgo may need to be quarantined for up to two weeks in Japan due to traveling on an international flight. It remains unclear as to when the dog will arrive in Kansas City.
“At this point, all I can do is be hopeful that my dog is going to be OK and return safely,” Swindle told KCTV. “I don’t know what else to do at this point. I can’t cry anymore. I’ve cried too much.”
The United officials who admit that the dogs were indeed swapped have a mighty good excuse: The kennels looked similar. Way to go United! Another day, another trip through the friendly skies.
United Airlines is supposedly investigating the incident.