Ms. Ni, after being informed that the puppy had died, found a baggage handler at the airport. The handler stated that when transferring the luggage from the aircraft cabin to the storage warehouse, the puppy was still safe and sound inside the aviation crate.
■ Statement
■ Sound
Every matter has two sides. For those who are unfamiliar with puppies, it might be a terrifying nightmare. Although many people say that such a small dog is non-aggressive, if it were to escape near any aircraft on the tarmac and go unnoticed, hundreds of lives could be at risk. This is why there are such regulations; all airlines have them. If a small animal escapes and cannot be captured, such an incident could occur.
Why should innocent little lives be ended just because air transport of dogs isn't regulated? Seeing the pictures made my fake tears uncontrollable.
The passenger whose pet dog died is known as "Miao Qinglang." A day later, she posted about the incident on Weibo and received over 20,000 likes.
Hainan Airlines - the puppy ran onto the taxiway and was shot dead.
— Netizens
Regarding the damage to the aviation crate during the consignment process, "Miao Qinglang" expressed that perhaps the aviation crate will be inspected to see if it was crushed or if the door loosened. Regarding the claim that the puppy ran onto the taxiway, "Miao Qinglang" hopes that the airport and airline can provide photographic or surveillance video evidence and confirm whether it affected the takeoff order. At the same time, Ms. Ni claimed that the injuries on the puppy looked like they were inflicted from a distance. "Could it not have been picked up instead of letting it die?"
After arriving at Haikou Meilan Airport, Ms. Ni waited in the special baggage delivery area for the aviation crate containing the puppy, but ended up receiving an empty crate.
Ms. Ni inquired about the situation from the staff, "They said the aviation crate was fine, but the dog had disappeared and they were looking for it." Subsequently, the staff informed her again that the puppy had run onto the taxiway and was killed.
As for the cause of the puppy's death, both "Miao Qinglang" and Ms. Ni have doubts.
According to Article 113 of Chapter 4 of the 'Regulations on Domestic Transport of Civil Aviation Cargo in China,' when consigning live animals, the consignor must contact the carrier beforehand and book a cabin space. When handling the consignment procedures, a Live Animal Transportation Declaration Form must be filled out. Special care and feeding or smaller animals should be accompanied by someone. The packaging of the animals must facilitate loading and meet the characteristics of the animals and the requirements for air transport. It must prevent the animals from breaking free, escaping, or coming into contact with the outside world. There must be measures on top to prevent fecal leakage, ensuring ventilation to avoid suffocation of the animals. The consignor and shipper must handle the transportation and landing of the animals at the airport and are responsible for the preservation of the animals before transportation and upon arrival. When transporting live animals, the carrier must place the animals in cabins suitable for carrying live animals. If the animals die during transportation, unless due to the consignor's fault, the carrier does not bear responsibility.
Puppy Killed During Air Transport
At Beijing Airport, the puppy was photographed being loaded into the aviation crate (right image and upper right small image). A photo of the puppy "Gege" before being placed in the crate (upper left small image).
At Haikou Meilan Airport, Ms. Ni retrieved the aviation crate. Hainan Airlines stated that the puppy escaped from the aviation crate, ran onto the taxiway, and was urgently shot dead by airport personnel. Images provided by "Miao Qinglang."
Yesterday afternoon, both Hainan Airlines and Haikou Meilan International Airport expressed their apologies and regrets regarding the accidental death of the pet dog on their official Weibo accounts. Both parties are currently investigating the matter together and will actively communicate updates on the subsequent situation.
■ Regulations
Weibo Recommendation | Today's Weibo Hot Topics (Editor: SN014)
Responsibilities Related to Animal Air Transport
"Miao Qinglang" stated that upon retrieving the aviation crate containing the puppy, the packing straps were intact. The crate only had one door that separated from the body of the crate, yet it opened on its own. "Under normal circumstances, this door shouldn't open easily. Is it possible for a puppy to unlatch it?" Ms. Ni suspects that the aviation crate was tampered with.
Dog Owner Hopes to Review Airport Surveillance
Last night, reporters repeatedly contacted Haikou Meilan Airport but were unable to confirm whether the airport side indeed shot the dog.
Owner Questions Dog's Cause of Death
Yesterday, reporters contacted "Miao Qinglang." She mentioned that the previous day, her mother, Ms. Ni, boarded Hainan Airlines flight HU7182 bound for Haikou and arranged for the 4-year-old "Gege" to be checked as baggage.
Subsequently, Ms. Ni requested to view the puppy's body. An hour later, airport staff brought out the puppy's corpse, "covered in blood, still stiff, fur missing on the abdomen, and a blood-swollen buttock." Ms. Ni sobbed over the phone.
— Netizens
Last night, Ms. Huang, a public relations staff member at Hainan Airlines, stated that after verifying with the airport side, the aviation crate containing the puppy was crushed during consignment, and the door loosened. After the crate was placed next to the conveyor belt, the puppy escaped from the cage and ran towards the taxiway. Since there were departing flights at the time, to ensure aviation safety, emergency measures were taken, and the puppy was shot dead. Ms. Huang indicated that some details are still being further confirmed, and compensation and other follow-up issues are being negotiated with the pet owner.
Original Report: The previous day, a puppy (a Teddy dog) was transported via Hainan Airlines from the capital to Haikou. The dog owner at Haikou Meilan Airport was informed that the puppy had escaped from the aviation crate and ran towards the runway, prompting relevant authorities to take emergency measures and shoot the dog. Upon seeing the puppy's body covered in blood, with bald patches on the abdomen and a blood-swollen buttock, the dog owner questioned the cause of death.
Yesterday, both Hainan Airlines and Haikou Meilan Airport expressed regret and condolences on their official Weibo accounts. Hainan Airlines stated that after verification, the aviation crate containing the puppy was damaged during consignment, allowing the puppy to escape towards the taxiway. To ensure aviation safety, the puppy was shot dead.