Tue., Sept. 30, 2014

Flying Fido? Perhaps reconsider

Flagpole painter Warren Hinrichs, 73, holds his dog Stitch and rests up at home in Spokane on Wednesday. He started climbing and painting flagpoles and water towers more than 50 years ago with his dad, Bill Hinrichs, seen in many photos in his home office. (Jesse Tinsley)

As pets accompany their owners more places, the friendly skies are often not so friendly for our pets.

In the last four years, 62 animals have been injured or died while in transit on Alaska Airlines. Only Delta – with six times Alaska’s air traffic - has more injured or killed critters at 74 animals.

Alaska Airlines does transport more creatures, including birds, hamsters, turtles and non-venomous snakes, while JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines and US Airways will not transport dogs or cats as cargo. So the stats may be misleading.

We love our pets dearly; sometimes that means leaving them with a trusted caregiver or taking a pet-friendly form of transportation before we haul them around the country above the clouds.

(S- R photo: Flagpole painter Warren Hinrichs, 73, holds his dog Stitch )

Posted Sept. 30, 2014, 6 a.m.