Checked Pets (Employee perspective)
Hello, I'd like to start by saying I'm making this post because of passion for animals.
To keep this post from biting me in the butt I will not mention my base or employer or any specific incidents but we are a large hub and service aircraft from many different airports.
I have been contracted to work closely with gate agents and have been there for about 8 months.
In this time I have seen animals arrive deceased due to improper handling by staff. Animals thrown. Animals mistreated. Luggage thrown around and on top of the cages. and have even seen them forgotten on aircraft that were waiting on weather for hours.
To keep it very simple. If you care about your pet, I suggest thinking twice about checking them on your flight.
This isn't a training issue. The most commonly hired people come from cultures that don't care about animals or see it as a norm to keep pets so they don't feel the need to care for them. Management knows but fails to present repercussions due to constant shortages.
I should mention I don't work for WestJet directly. WestJet hires third party services to handle ground operations. This is most likely the case for air Canada as well however I can't speak to that.
Even if everything does get properly done the experience your animals go through is terrifying.
I just hope this post helps at least one pet stay out of the cargo hold.