Military families who own American Pit Bull Terriers and numerous other breeds won't be able to use United Airlines to ship their pets back home. The airline has adopted a policy, as part of its merger with Continental Airlines, that bans those breeds of dogs.
United Airlines is a federally contracted carrier for the U.S. military.
According to United's website, the following breeds are banned on the airline once they are six months old or weigh 20 pounds:
- American Staffordshire Terriers
- Ca de Bou
- Cane Corso
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Brasileiro
- Perro de Presa Canario
- Pit Bull Terriers
- Presa Canario
- Tosa (or Tosa Ken)
United spokeswoman Mary Ryan wrote in an email to Stars and Stripes:
“United does not accept certain breeds of dogs based on previous transport-related situations … Additionally, United reserves the right to refuse any animal that displays aggression or viciousness at the time of tender."
Opponents of the breed ban have started a petition on Change.org that's already garnered more than 35,000 signatures. The petition reads, in part:
United Airlines is the only airline in the U.S. with a breed-specific dangerous dog restriction. Both the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) oppose such breed-specific policies. A dog is an individual with his own unique personality and should be judged based on temperament, not on appearance or breed.
Do you think this policy is fair?
