FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2007
AMERICAN AIRLINES SAYS LIFE OF YOUR PET IS WORTH ONLY 50 CENTS PER POUND
San Francisco Resident Continues Legal Battle Against American Airlines After Dog Dies at Airport
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – For many pet owners who value their companion animals as priceless, the risks of transporting their animals by air may be too high of a price to pay. Terrence Ing of San Francisco never dreamed he would still be paying the price for the death of Willie, his beloved English bulldog. But, two years later, Mr. Ing’s on-going battle against American Airlines is just beginning. The landmark case is expected to go to trial on March 19, 2007.
“Willie came off the plane with shallow breathing, yet American Airlines did nothing to help him. Furthermore, the airline denied me access to my own dog and prevented me from taking him to a local veterinarian to save his life. By the time I found a veterinarian to help Willie, it was five hours too late,” said Mr. Ing.
Despite Willie’s death, other incidents, and the tremendous public outcry over the bulldog’s plight, American Airlines has done nothing to improve pet safety or establish procedures to handle pet emergencies since the story first received international media attention last year. (Willie’s tragic story appeared on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, other television and radio networks, and in newspapers across the globe.) Because of American Airline’s inaction, Mr. Ing has vowed to carry on his legal fight until the airlines puts in place steps to deal with pet emergencies.
“I am desperately trying to raise awareness in the public to prevent any families from having to wait helplessly, while their loved one suffers and dies. In addition, I am committed to battling American Airlines in court to force them to improve their pet transportation policies. Pet paramedics and veterinarians agree there was a good chance Willie could have been saved if prompt care was administered. One veterinarian told us that he saved 50% of the animals that had the same symptoms as Willie,” he said.
Fighting American Airlines is a way for Mr. Ing to show that Willie’s life is worth more than the airline giant’s liability policy, which provides just 50 cents per pound.
Mr. Ing said, “I’m not doing this for the money. It’s costing me a lot to fund this case. But if we are successful, we will be able to force the airline to improve the way it transports animals before, during, and after the flight.”
Mr. Ing is represented by the San Francisco law office of Evans & Page with the support of Lewis & Clark Law School's Animal Law located in Portland, Oregon and the Animal Legal Defense Fund.
###
Digitial pics of Willie the dog are available at www.lclark.edu/org/ncal/willie.html
Tax-deductible donations can be made to:
c/o Animal Law Associates
Attention: Willie’s Case
1210 22nd St.
San Francisco, CA 94107.
Animal Law Associates is a nonprofit organization that litigates to improve the lives of animals.
An online petition has been created and currently has over 870 signatures with an additional 300 offline.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/willie/ CONTACTS:
Terrence Ing, Plaintiff, (415) 517-7551,
helpwillie@gmail.com Corey Evans, Evans & Page, (415) 695-0951, 415-637-2354,
cevans@evansandpage.com Laura Ireland Moore, National Center for Animal Law, (503) 768-6600,
ncal@lclark.edu