Canadians Want Pet-Free Flights
Eighty percent of Canadians believe the country’s airlines should offer some pet-free flights to protect the health and safety of passengers and crew members, according to a new survey by the Canadian Lung Association (Ottawa, Ontario). Pet allergens can trigger reactions in people with lung diseases like asthma, and air recycled through vents spreads allergens quickly throughout the airplane’s cabin.
“If someone brings a dog or cat onto an airplane and there’s someone with asthma on board, it can trigger a potentially fatal asthma attack,” said Peter MacLeod, medical spokesperson for the Canadian Lung Association. Such attacks are rare if asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are properly managed, he said, but one fatal case could change current policies that allow pets in airplane cabins.
Poll results show 75 percent of Canadians think the federal government has a responsibility to take action, so the association is calling on Canada’s House of Commons Standing Committee on Health to examine the issue.
“By large margins, Canadians are saying that the federal government has a broader responsibility to protect the respiratory health of passengers and crew,” said Cameron Bishop, director of government affairs for association. Bishop said it’s not about denying people the privilege of traveling with pets, but finding a middle ground that balances the love for pets with the health and safety of airline passengers and crews. [September 2009 PET AGE]
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