This hurts, I'm pissed!!

[glowworm3980]

Sorry for the long post!

Well it hurts me greatly to be posting in this section of the forum. As some of you might have known, I was overseas in Germany were I got my wonderful male rotty Wotan. He was 15 months old when we recently (last Friday the 30th) were moving to Georgia. Among leaving Germany the physician there recomended I give him two tablets to make him clam during the flight right before we left to the airport. To make a long stort short, when we arrived in Atlanta, Ga. and claimed our luggage I claimed him and ensured that he was OK. I looked really groggy as my assumption was that it was due to the meds. It was two tablets of Sedalin forte. I looked around brieflt and didn't see a place to get hime any water. The luggage tenant there whom helped me transport him and our luggage said that he and the luggage will be transported by a belt to the main luggage claim area. She said that by the time I get there he will be waiting for us. I asked how long and she said no more than 10 minutes. I told Wotan that he was doing great and that soon this will be all over and we'll get you out this cage. We got on the train to the main baggage claim area and he was not there yet. My wife and I decided to go ahead and get the rental car so we could get on the road ASAP for another 5 hour road trip. I went back out to check on the status of the luggage and Wotan coming up. He still was not up. The time now since the last time I saw him was about 45 mins. The new luggage tentant said that he would go down and check. When he come back about 15 mins later he seemed nervous telling me that I need to come check on my dog ASAP. I told him that he is under meds and looks lazy. He said no he's not moving. I ran to check on him to find out that he was not breathing and had passed. The airlines as well as the airport was not helpful what so ever in helping me with his passing. The luggage tenant was the most helpful person in helping me align transportation to a vet clinic to have an attopsy performed. The manager there said that someone would come and do a report and that I would probably be contacted by customer relations. To this exact moment, no one from the airlines nor the ATL Int. Airport has contacted me. The physician told me from his autopsy that the medication dosage which we gave would have not made him overdose. He said that he would point his finger at the airline/airport and the length it took them to transport him to the final baggage claim. So somewhere from the first baggage claim and the final which was suppose to be 10-15 minutes turned out to approx. 1 hour and my Wotan passing.

I don't know where to turn if I should be pressing the airlines or airport telling them they need to compinsate me with the lose of my family member. What do you think out there? Maybe somebody has some legal experience in this and can give me guidance on what I should do. Thanks and sorry to all the rest of you whom have lost a family member.

[AngelBunny]

Words fail at the horror of this.

I am so very very sorry.

[observer]

I'm so sorry about Wotan. What a terrible thing to happen.

What did the autopsy show? That will tell you a lot about how to proceed against either the airline or the airport. While the med level may not have been an overdose, he may have been extra sensitive to the medication, or other factors were involved as well.

I'm not terribly surprised that you have not been contacted, but I'd sure expect a call or letter this week, or have your attorney beat them to it with a demand letter.

[TrinaJ]

OMG, I am so very sorry. I dont know what to say...its just so sad.

My thoughts are with you.

RIP Wotan...

~*hug*~

Trina

[Cdn1050]

I'm shocked and speachless. I'm so sorry for your loss. R.I.P. Wotan

[Anne]

What a terrible thing to happen. I'm so very sorry.
RIP Wotan.

[Donnerberg]

You're never supposed to give your dog any sedatives during flight. It's dangerous to the dog. That's why none of the airlines allow it in the US.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

[julsquincy]

I'm deeply saddened by your loss and appalled something like this can happen. My thoughts are with you and your family.

[cocopuffs]

If you were overseas because of the military I would contact JAG

[trish603a]

Originally Posted by cocopuffs

If you were overseas because of the military I would contact JAG

I second this! when we PCS'ed from Italy to Georgia we had our dog flown too. It was a horrible ordeal, and I can understand why you are so upset about this situation. Once the autopsy findings come back, you will know which way to proceed. I am so sorry you are going through this right now.

[bliss7373]

This is just horrible. I am so sorry for your loss. I agree with the others - let the results of the autopsy dictate your decisions regarding the airlines. You may want to contact an attorney, regardless.

[glowworm3980]

Thank you all for your condolences! I will recieve the official report today. From talking to the vet, he stated that all his organs looked fine. His temperature was still in the normal ranges when he recieved him approxiamtely 2hrs later. To him he said that Wotan's temperature would have been high at his time of death. With him be without water for that hour and more than likely sitting out in the heat caused this to happen. I think that the airline had him sitting out on the tarmac or in a non-airconditioned room. I am in the service and will contact JAG to see what they have to say about this. For me, I just want answers, and if somebody was in the wrong then I want them to pay for them not doing their job and causing my famlily great pain. I believe that God does everything for some reason. So if nobody is at fault and everybody did their job to the standard, then so be it. Once again, thank you all!!

[Shane]

I am so horribly sorry to hear of your loss.

[Karyn]

I don't blame you. When I flew for TWA dogs were transported by baggage. I was friends with the baggage handlers in LAX - they were ALWAYS considerate of animals. They would take them out of the crate for a potty brake - give water and just generally care for them. the Airlines sure have changed since I flew 1972 thru 1978. They don't take care of their passengers - so they sure won't take care of animals.

[Buggy]

I am so very sorry for what you are going through. I have been offered a dog from a great kennel in Denmark but I'm terrified about shipping - even more so now. Your poor Wotan. Please keep us updated.