Kevin the cat has been reunited together with his household after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal whereas misplaced at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
The grey-coloured British shorthair arrived on an Air Transat flight from Glasgow, Scotland on Sunday morning, however when the cat’s proprietor went to choose it up within the baggage declare space, Kevin was nowhere to be seen.
“It was such a heartbreak,” Whitby resident Jackie Winterfield told CP24.com.
“We had no idea if he was dead or alive.”
The feline in question belongs to Winterfield’s 22-year-old daughter, Emily, who had been living abroad for the last three years.
Winterfield said that once she got off the plane Emily went to grab her cat from the baggage claim area but “found (the carrier) empty on the baggage carousel.”
For the following six hours, Winterfield’s daughter scoured the airport for Kevin, however finally went home empty-handed and distraught, she stated.
Then, early Wednesday morning, the household received a name from the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), which manages Pearson: Kevin had been discovered and become the Canada Border Services Agency.
It will not be clear the place the cat spent the earlier 72 hours, however Winterfield informed CP24.com that an agent knowledgeable her that the animal had been discovered on the runway.
Winterfield stated Kevin was returned to them hungry, thirsty, drained, and coated in black soot, however she famous that after a superb tub, an extended nap, and a few meals and water he appears to be wonderful.
“It’s a mostly happy ending,” Winterfield stated.
In an announcement offered to CP24.com, Air Transat stated that they “regret the unfortunate mishap that occurred during Kevin’s journey from Glasgow to Toronto.”
“Air Transat takes the care and safety of all transported pets very seriously, and we deeply sympathize with the distress this has caused Kevin’s owner, spokesperson Bernard Côté wrote in an email.
“We want to assure you that our team did everything possible to locate Kevin once we were notified of his escape.”
Issues began before takeoff: mother
Winterfield said their troubles with Air Transat began before the flight departed Scotland.
The Whitby mother said her daughter had gone out of her way to ensure the cat made it back home to Canada safely, going so far as to buy a special soft-sided carrier and pre-paying for the pet to ride next to her in the cabin.
However, on the day of travel, she said that the airline refused to allow the animal inside the cabin of the aircraft citing “an issue with the carrier.”
Instead, Kevin was provided a spot within the cargo bay, she stated.
Winterfield stated that her daughter’s associate needed to hurriedly buy a brand new, hard-sided provider for Kevin earlier than the flight took off. They have been additionally charged an extra 200 British kilos at the moment, she stated.
“It was so ridiculous,” stated Winterfield.
“It’s just shocking to see how negligent this airline can be.”
The family says they have since spoken with a lawyer and are considering taking legal action.
According to the GTAA, “travelling pets” are welcome at Pearson.
Spokesperson Fabrice de Dongo provided the next recommendation for homeowners:
“While their transportation is the responsibility of each airline, we remind passengers that, for their safety and comfort, pets must be kept inside their carriers at all times. We also ask travellers to let their airline know – when they are booking their flight – that they plan to travel with their pet,” he wrote in an announcement offered to CP24.
“With all the necessary information in hand, each airline will be able to advise on the size of carrier needed, as well as any required travel documents. … Again, Air Transat and/or individual airlines are best placed to speak to their policies and guidelines.”
