Airline regulations may misrepresent animal deaths

Alison Young of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution found that the airline regulation language protecting animal safety excludes the thousands of animals transported by breeders, farms, laboratories and pet stores. The U.S. Department of Transportation defines the word “animal” to mean one “that is being kept as a pet in a family household in the United States,” and requires airlines to report any animal injury or death occurring while in transit. The loophole allows airlines to leave the deaths or injuries of animals owned by businesses to go unreported.