Air Canada lost a dog. Then things got worse

Air Canada lost a dog. Then things got worse

Air Canada lost a dog in San Francisco on Monday when it escaped after an employee let the Italian greyhound out of its cage.

The airline made the situation worse when Air Canada’s manager of corporate communications appeared to callously dismiss the incident in an email that was meant to be internal.

“I guess I’m the poster child now for Be Careful With Email,” Peter Fitzpatrick glumly told the Toronto Star.

Fitzpatrick’s emailed response, sent in frustration, landed instead on the computer of a CBS13 television reporter in the United States who wanted answers about the incident and Air Canada’s policy on safeguarding pets.

The original email, with the subject heading marked “urgent,” was sent by reporter Maria Medina to a public relations official in Vancouver on Thursday asking about the incident.

Angela Mah responded quickly with a statement, describing the incident and search efforts by both cargo and airport staff.

The reporter wrote back to Mah shortly after with follow-up questions and added that she would like them answered for her story at 10 p.m.

Mah asked Fitzpatrick for his advice in Toronto. By this time, Fitzpatrick had grown exasperated with the reporter’s email because the airline didn’t have the answers.

http://www.thestar.com/business/2013/10/11/air_canada_lost_a_dog_then_things_got_worse.html

B.C.-bound dog lost by Air Canada confirmed dead
Italian greyhound bound for a new family in Campbell River, B.C., went missing in San Francisco
The Canadian Press Posted: Oct 26, 2013 2:09 PM PT Last Updated: Oct 27, 2013 11:29 AM PT

An American woman who was attempting to relocate an Italian greyhound to a family in British Columbia, only to learn the dog was missing after it bolted from Air Canada employees at San Francisco's airport, says she's confirmed the animal died after apparently being hit by a car.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-bound-dog-lost-by-air-canada-confirmed-dead-1.2253008

Since there appear to be no further updates, I'm moving this topic from Developing Stories to Closed.