Legal News

Frozen Snickers are a wonderful treat. They, however, do not make wonderful pets. One Connecticut woman can attest to this.

Heather Lombardi stowed her kitten, Snickers, in a Delta Airlines cargo hold when flying to Utah last month. The airline assured her that the hairless kitten would be fine--the cargo hold was climate-controlled. They, however, failed to tell her that the climate was only controlled during the flight--meaning not while the plane was on the ground.

A latch malfunction delayed the kitten's deplaning by nearly an hour, reports the Associated Press. It was only 10 degrees Fahrenheit outside.

Heather Lombardi immediately took the kitten to the veterinarian, but Snickers died en route. The dead kitten was shown to have had hypothermia, which can result in death if warmed up too quickly.

Delta has offered to refund Heather Lombardi Snickers' airfare plus up to an additional $50, details the Associated Press. They'll pay 50 cents a pound for the dead kitten--the standard cargo rate.

Dozens of animals die in transit every year according to the Department of Transportation. Both heat and cold can create extreme temperatures in airplane cargo holds that may cause pets to die. Officials recommend that you consult with your vet before stowing your pet, as each breed tolerates temperature differently.

Dead kittens don't often make it into headline news, but Heather Lombardi wanted to make her tragedy known. So let Snickers serve as a reminder that pets are not cargo, even if Delta wants to value them as such. They are your furry or scaly children, and they deserve better.

Related Resources:

• Kitten dies after chilly flight in cargo (USA Today)
• Animals Aren't Cargo: Another Pet Tragedy (PETA)
• Woman Mails Puppy, Charged with Animal Cruelty (FindLaw's Legally Weird)