OTTAWA - Karen Petcoff doesn’t want to think about being on the same airplane as a cat.
The Scarborough mom, whose 16-year-old daughter Gillian also suffers from asthma, is looking at booking a trip to Vancouver this summer but her asthma and severe allergy to felines means she is too scared to book with WestJet or Air Canada.
It doesn’t leave her too many options besides VIA Rail, a trip that would take three days instead of five hours.
“Within minutes, my chest will tighten up and I find it difficult to breathe,” said Petcoff, 47, describing what happens if she happens to be anywhere near a cat or even a cat owner with cat dander on their clothes.
Air Canada recently announced it would allow pets in the cabin areas of flights. The policy took effect on Canada Day. WestJet also allows pets in cabins.
The pet-friendly airlines have allergy sufferers like Petcoff shaking her head and health advocacy groups like the Canadian Lung Association stepping up their public relations battle against the pets-on-board policies.
Yesterday the Canadian Lung Association launched its online campaign to get the airlines to reconsider allowing pets in the cabins. The association is calling on Canadians to pressure Parliament to take action and rule that pets should only be allowed to be transported in heated, pressurized luggage compartments of planes.
According to the association, airline passengers who suffer from severe allergies to pets, asthma, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease would be at risk of having their attacks triggered by pets in the passenger cabins. According to the association, it’s possible the animals on planes could trigger a potentially fatal attack in asthma sufferers.
“Profit is taking a front seat and public health is taking a back seat,” said spokesman Cameron Bishop. “From our perspective you don’t have to trade one off for the other.”
Petcoff said she wants Air Canada and WestJet to scrap the policy.
“I’m supportive of trying to rescind it, for sure,” Petcoff said. “Unfortunately I think it’s going to take a bad situation to occur before they react.
“I’m all for customer service and enriching the passenger experience,” Petcoff said. “I know how some people can get really attached to their pets, but I have to think there’s another way to manage that without compromising the health of their passengers.”
Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzgerald said many airlines around the world allow pets in cabins and that Air Canada used to allow pets to travel with passengers for 60 years. Fitzgerald said the airline will do whatever it can to accommodate passengers with allergies.
“We think this policy is very prudent and that it balances the interests of everyone,” Fitzgerald said.
brett.clarkson@sunmedia.ca
