A San Francisco man has sued Alaska Airlines alleging negligence led to the demise of his beloved 3-year-old French bulldog after he was requested to maneuver from first-class to teach on a flight from New York to San Francisco.
Michael Contillo claimed he particularly bought a first-class ticket to provide his pup, Ash, more room and to maintain him round fewer individuals on the Feb. 1 flight. However, Contillo was requested to maneuver to teach, which brought on Ash to develop into anxious, and led to well being points culminating within the canine’s demise, the grievance stated.
The lawsuit, filed Oct. 16 in San Francisco County Superior Court in opposition to Alaska Airlines, alleges breach of contract, negligence, negligent hiring and supervision, negligent infliction of emotional misery, and seeks punitive damages to be decided at trial.
The grievance says that in November 2023, Contillo had travelled from San Francisco to New York along with his father and two French bulldogs — Ash and Kora. On that journey they flew first-class with out incident and each French bulldogs arrived safely in New York.
The go well with alleges each canine have been wholesome throughout their keep in New York and the plaintiff took the bulldogs to a veterinary hospital to get checked out forward of their return flight to San Francisco to verify they have been well being sufficient for the journey.
“The Vet confirmed that each canine have been wholesome and could be secure to take a cross-country flight,” the go well with stated.
On Feb. 1, Contillo and his father travelled again to SFO Airport, together with the 2 canine. Contillo had bought two first-class tickets along with his father to “be certain that the canine had more room and that they might have the ability to board the flight early.”
The go well with stated that he adopted Alaska Airlines’ coverage, reserving each in cabin canine forward of the flight by calling and reserving the first-class house, paying a further $100 per canine on the airport, and transporting the canine in carriers compliant with measurement necessities.
They have been initially positioned within the fourth row.
However, shortly earlier than take off, “an Alaska Airlines flight attendant and one other unknown male worker of Alaska Airlines requested the Plaintiff and his father to maneuver to aisle 11 of the Plane for security functions,” the grievance stated.
Contillo defined that shifting the canine earlier than takeoff could be “extraordinarily harmful for the canine,” noting that they have been “calm for the time being” however “wouldn’t be calm anymore now that the airplane was full of individuals.”
“To transfer the canine now would make them very anxious and excited, which might result in extraordinarily harmful respiration and coronary heart issues. This change may very well be deadly for a canine, particularly proper earlier than you alter altitudes,” the go well with stated.
The new seats Contillo and his father have been requested to maneuver to have been nearer to extra individuals and had much less house for the canine to breathe, the go well with contends. However the staff allegedly “ignored every thing that was stated” and Contillo in the end complied.
Then “Ash instantly began respiration in a short time and closely, with noticeable nervousness.” The go well with stated that Contillo was instructed to shut the provider, and he complied, however observed that Ash “stopped shifting however couldn’t verify on him till after a sure altitude had been reached.”
By the time Contillo and his father deboarded on the San Francisco International Airport, Ash’s physique “was fully in rigor mortis.”
“Rigor Mortis does not likely set in till about 4 hours after demise for canine. The flight was over 5 hours in size. The plaintiff and his father confirmed that Ash was certainly lifeless and instantly began to weep,” the grievance stated.
The American Veterinary Medical Association notes that short-nosed breeds, resembling pugs and bulldogs, usually tend to die on airplanes than canine with normal-length muzzles, as a result of these breeds are extra liable to respiratory issues. The group means that such breeds needs to be within the passenger cabin.
The go well with alleged that the crew and pilot “confirmed no sympathy” for Contillo over his canine’s loss.
“No one stopped to point out concern, provide condolences, or present the slightest little bit of compassion,” the go well with stated.
As of the lawsuit’s submitting, Contillo stated he didn’t hear from any airline consultant concerning the demise of his canine, described as “like a son to his proprietor, who didn’t have kids of his personal,” the grievance stated.
“Because of the unjustifiable transfer, the Plaintiff’s canine Ash died. Alaska Airlines staff ought to have identified the necessities wanted to keep away from that occuring,” the submitting claimed.
NBC News has reached out to Alaska Airlines and attorneys for Contillo for remark.