Pit bulls grounded by airlines

Pit bulls grounded by airlines
Tanya Giles
05oct05

PIT bull terriers are enduring further bans in Australia with airline companies refusing to carry the dogs on their flights.





Qantas and Jetstar have imposed blanket bans on pit bull terriers and pit bull terrier crosses in line with scores of overseas companies that refuse to carry the dogs. "Qantas has a complete ban on pit bull terriers, pit bull terrier crosses and anything else that even resembles a pit bull," one Qantas employee said.

"That's the rule."

The source said the ruling came in after one pit bull gnawed its way out of a cage and "completely destroyed" the cargo hold of a plane, causing thousands of dollars damage.

Qantas Freight head Denis Adams confirmed Qantas had refused to carry pit bull terriers since 2002 because of dogs escaping from their kennels and causing damage in the baggage holds of planes.

Jetstar's website simply states that pit bull terriers "are not permitted to be uplifted" on its flights.

A Jetstar spokesman said the ban was in place to protect staff from being bitten.

Virgin Blue does not automatically knock back pit bull terriers from its flights, but the dogs are not allowed to be held in plastic containers and have to be flown in wooden or metal crates instead.

The airline will not accept any dog that is savage or displays sign of aggression.

Agriculture Minister Bob Cameron said yesterday the decision was common sense.

"(Airline companies) have had continual problems with these dogs just as the Victorian community has had continual problems with these dogs," he said.

Mr Cameron said the bans imposed by airlines for commercial reasons were in line with a government decision to sterilise pit bull terriers out of existence in Victoria for community safety reasons.

American Pit Bull Terrier Club of Australia spokesman Colin Muir said yesterday the bans were ridiculous.

"It is sheer stupidity. American pit bull terrier owners will just go with Virgin Blue," he said.

New laws forcing all pit bull owners to desex their dogs by April so the breed is eradicated in Victoria are due to be debated in Parliament in coming weeks.