In contrast to yesterday’s post highlighting the disgusting way humans kill wildlife, today is all about humans saving life. Specifically, the life of a seven-year-old French bulldog.
I came across a news item reported by Citynews in Canada on the BBC News website. This is how the news story opened:
Air Canada flight diverted to save dog from freezing
16 September 2015
Picture copyright CityNews, Toronto.
An Air Canada flight was diverted after the pilot realised that a cargo hold heating unit failed, threatening the life of a pet dog.
Simba, a seven-year-old French bulldog, was riding in the cargo hold where – without heating – temperatures can become very cold at high altitude.
The Sunday flight from Tel Aviv, Israel, to Toronto, Canada, and was diverted to Frankfurt, Germany.
It was then a simple process to go to that CityNews website in Canada and read the original story. It contained these delightful messages:
With the dog’s well-being in peril the pilot decided to land the plane in Frankfurt, Germany.
Simba was placed on another flight and the plane continued on to Toronto.
The dog’s owner was more than grateful.
“It’s my dog, it’s like my child. It’s everything to me,” he said after they were reunited at Pearson Airport.
Aviation expert Phyl Durby said the pilot made the right call, despite tacking on about $10,000 in fuel costs and delaying the flight by 75 minutes.
“If you look at the outside temperature, if it’s minus 50 or 60, there is some insulation but it will probably still get down to below freezing (in the cargo area),” Durby said.
“The captain is responsible for all lives on board, whether it’s human or K-9.”
The owner of the dog, German Kontorovich, was thankful for the pilot’s rapid actions, “It’s my dog, it’s like my child. It’s everything to me,” Mr Kontorovich told the Canadian news website CityNews.
To close today’s good news story, watch the following:
A lovely story Paul, and surely we are entitled to expect that such action would be taken as a matter of course. I am certain the pilot was commended by Air Canada chiefs, as he probably saved them paying out much more in litigation than a mere $10k; though in any case, what right-minded person could have continued knowing the possible fate of the dog had they done so?
Learning from Dogs 
A lovely story Paul, and surely we are entitled to expect that such action would be taken as a matter of course. I am certain the pilot was commended by Air Canada chiefs, as he probably saved them paying out much more in litigation than a mere $10k; though in any case, what right-minded person could have continued knowing the possible fate of the dog had they done so?
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Hariod, I am sure that it would have been standard procedure to divert even without the potential loss of life of the dog. You take care.
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Indeed, the pilot is a champion!
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Thanks John.
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Beautiful story. So good to hear ❤
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So lovely to have your reply and welcome to this place. Hope to see you again.
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You will!
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🙂
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Wonderful heart warming story dear Paul.. and I thank you for sharing it.. shows there are many Good hearts out there.. xx
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Doesn’t it just, Sue. Great reminder to stay away from news headlines.
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