In May of this year, the first dog-friendly airline in the United States, “Wang Wang Airlines,” launched, allowing furry passengers to travel outside of cages, complete with their own boarding passes and designated seats. However, a recent incident has raised serious concerns about the treatment of pets on flights.

Michael ‘Mike’ Contillo, a San Francisco resident, has filed a lawsuit against Alaska Airlines after a tragically mishandled situation during a flight from New York to San Francisco. On February 1, Contillo and his father were traveling in first class with two French Bulldogs: three-year-old Ash and ten-year-old Kora. Before boarding, they were unexpectedly asked to move from their seats in row four to row eleven for safety reasons. Contillo emphasized that moving the dogs without proper care could pose significant risks, particularly respiratory and cardiac issues, especially during takeoff. Despite his concerns, they were forced to change seats.

After the switch, Contillo noticed Ash was breathing rapidly and heavily, becoming visibly anxious, but then seemed to settle down. He believed Ash had simply fallen asleep, unaware that there were serious issues at play. It wasn’t until they arrived at San Francisco International Airport that Contillo discovered Ash had passed away, exhibiting signs of rigor mortis just four hours after the flight began.

In a recent interview with the Daily Mail, Contillo expressed his belief that if they had not been forced to change seats, Ash would have survived the journey. He had originally purchased first-class tickets for this very reason, even paying an additional fee to bring his dogs into the cabin. He has criticized Alaska Airlines for negligence, carelessness, and recklessness.

Regarding the flight crew’s insistence on the seat change for safety concerns, Contillo questioned, “Whose safety are they trying to protect?” Additionally, he noted the airline did not refund the difference between first-class and economy seats.

As a product manager at the legal firm LegalOn, Contillo described the loss of Ash as profoundly painful, causing him severe emotional distress. In his lawsuit, he claims Ash held special significance to him, likening the bond he shared with Ash to that of a parent and child. He fondly remembers Ash as a kind and joyful dog who truly loved life, stating, “I’ve never seen a dog so happy to be alive.” Kora, the older dog, is currently healthy and remains living with Contillo in San Francisco.