Cat Missing At Chicago’s O’Hare Airport
Basil the cat has been roaming somewhere around O’Hare International Airport in Chicago since July 30. He is trying to find his way back to his owner.
Shelly-Marie Rios was moving to Detroit, Michigan to Austin, Texas with her two cats, Basil and Jasper. She put both one-year-old cats in a pet carrier to be put on an American Airlines plane for Austin.
At O’Hare, she was told that the cat carrier came apart when it was being loaded. Jasper went one way, and Basil went the other way. An American Airlines employee was able to catch Jasper, but Basil escaped.
“First of all, I’m broken-hearted that I don’t have my cat,” Rios said, “and secondly, that the cage was treated so inhumanely that the latches were actually broken off the cage.”
An American Airlines spokeswoman, Mary Frances Fagan said there was no inhumane treatment. She said when the ramp worker was loading the airplane, he lifted the carrier by the handle, and the bottom fell off.
Fagan said it is rare that American Airlines loses a pet and said the airline is truly sorry.
The company continues to put out food and have people looking for Basil.
Fagan added that it is rare that American Airlines loses an animal and that the airline is “terribly sorry.†They are very concerned about the situation and the safety of Basil and taking it very seriously.
Rios said she has had both of the cats since they were kittens and calls them both family. She said both Basil and Jasper were indoor cats, and that this is Basil’s first experience in the outdoors.
She also added that Jasper has not been the same since Basil has been missing. She has been walking around the house, meowing, and looking for Basil.
Rios has been calling animal shelters around the airport in hopes Basil was found outside its fences. She said Basil could also still be hiding at the airport.
Source: Chicago Sun Times
August 19th, 2007 at 10:30 am
That is so sad. I hope they find that cat.
August 19th, 2007 at 11:05 pm
I’ve always believed that airports, loud noise, cargo holds and pets do not really belong together. I have driven cross country during a stressful houseold move just so I can know my babies are comfortably with me and safe. I hope they find Basil, but O’Hare is a BIG airport.
August 20th, 2007 at 12:19 am
The bottom “fell out” of the crate? Only airline certified crates should be allowed in cargo - where no cat should ever be transported anyway! All the crates I’ve purchased in the past ten years came with extra mesh/velcro straps to be used for air transport. Sounds like AA didn’t even check the crate to see if it was approved for airline use or properly secured. Two cats in one crate? Ignorance is not bliss; but I do feel terribly sorry for the poor lost cat Basil.
August 20th, 2007 at 11:40 am
I hope they find him, too.
This story is just one more example of why pets shouldn’t fly cargo. It’s far too dangerous.
August 20th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
[…] was treated so inhumanely that the latches were actually broken off the cage.’†(source: Itchmo via Chicago Sun […]
August 28th, 2007 at 12:22 am
My boyfriend works at Fed Ex in the airport and one of his fellow employees found a cat and called the city. I wonder how we can tell the lady so she can see if it is her cat?