4 months ago
SACRAMENTO, CA - A Sacramento dog rescue group is blasting a ban against most pit bulls on Continental Airlines.
Dawn Capp, who runs The Chako Rescue Association for the American Pit Bull Terrier, is also a foster mom to 4-month-old Joey.
"He's a pit bull puppy and we rescued him from the Marysville shelter," Capp said.
Joey was only 6 weeks old when Capp took him in. Last week Libby Sherrill of Tennessee came to visit Capp and fell in love with the very energetic and playful pup.
But when Sherrill tried to take Joey home on her return flight on Continental Airlines, she got a surprise. "They would not accept any pit bulls over six months of age or over 20 pounds," Capp said.
Sherrill took Joey, who tips the scales at 26 pounds, to the airport to see if she could get him on her flight but a ticket agent said she couldn't discuss the airlines policy. Sherrill was referred to customer service.
A Continental representative told News10 the company has had a restriction on pit bulls for several years. The company Web site said the embargo is "due to the danger presented to our aircraft and customers."
An incensed Capp contacted News10 about the controversy on Monday.
"I think Continental's restriction is ridiculous," said Capp. "They will fly a 90-pound German Shepherd. They'll fly a Rottweiler. They'll fly just about every breed of dog but not a 4-month old pit bull puppy. I can't imagine what a pit bull puppy would do that a 90-pound German Shepherd wouldn't do."
Capp said she's telling people who show and rescue dogs to steer clear of using Continental to transport their animals. "I honestly don't see how this is a safety issue," Capp said. "He doesn't have adult teeth yet. He still has his puppy teeth. What they're doing is discriminating against a breed of dog."
According to Capp, other domestic airlines that fly animals do not have a restriction on pit bulls.
She hopes to get Joey to Tennessee sometime this week. "It will cost more because his owner isn't flying on the same plane with him," Capp said. "But it looks like we're going to send him home on American Airlines for about $275."
by Karen Massie, kmassie@news10.net
News10/KXTV
