Bringing Abby home...
G/A called me about finding somebody to transport 11 yr old Abby from the Omaha airport to Sioux City, IA. That is only a 2 hr drive for me, so I volunteered to do the drive. We were to meet up with Carmen, Abby’s new owner who was driving down from So Dakota. The final details were being made and Abby was flying in on Thursday, March 29th. She was flying in from Dallas, TX with a flight change in Minnesota and due to arrive in Omaha at 1:37 pm, but that was so very far from what actually happened! Her first flight out of Dallas was 40 min delayed due to “required crew rest” and her connecting flight out of Minnesota got cancelled. These things happen, so nothing to throw a fit over, it is what followed that made this a very unfortunate rescue transport! The next flight Abby got bumped off, because luggage (?) has priority over live animals according to Northwest Airlines. Abby wasn’t the only live animal that got bumped, there was also an exotic bird on this flight going through the same thing. So, I am at home after having taken a ½ day off from work waiting to hear back from G/A. She’s busy calling NWA trying to find out which flight Abby will be on. She’s being told that Abby most likely will be on the next flight, so I head off for the airport. I took my youngest daughter, Alicia, out of school a few minutes early because she wanted to tag along for the ride. Since Abby was flying in later and I had a meeting to attend that evening, I had communicated with Carmen to see if she could drive a little further. Now we were to meet in Onawa, IA, which would give me enough time to drive to and still make my meeting. Alicia and I were about 10 minutes from the airport when G/A called me with the latest news; Abby did not make the flight. I looked toward the horizon and saw smoke coming up from around the New England area!! Since I was so close to the airport, I decided to finish up the drive and go talk to the Cargo folks at NWA and see if I could get any more info. Two of the guys there agreed that live animals take priority over luggage and also hinted at the poor decisions the Minnesota Cargo department apparently make quite often. Alicia and I waited around for awhile for more information and I kept Carmen informed on what was going on. The next flight was due to come in around the same time as my meeting, so I was unable to wait around for it. I called my ex-husband, Marc, and he said he could meet the flight and pick up Abby. I had spoken with Carmen about driving even further and she agreed to drive to the Missouri Valley exit, which is only about 45 min from the Omaha airport and Marc had agreed to drive Abby there. Alicia and I left the airport and headed home. As I was having a quick bite to eat before I left for the meeting, I got a call from Marc. Abby had not made this flight either!!! He was told Abby should be in on the last flight due to land in Omaha at 11:17 pm. I called G/A, she was not aware of this latest development as she had been told “they” had seen Abby being wheeled over to the flight. I told G/A I would pick up Abby from this flight. I called Carmen and filled her in, but she was unable to wait around that long and had to head back home, without her Abby. We decided we’d meet up on Saturday instead. After my meeting I took Alicia to her cheer leading practice and 10 min into it, I get a call from G/A. Abby had been flown in on a flight that none of us were informed of! It was now 8:40 pm and she got in at 8:10 pm. I pulled Alicia out of her class and we headed to the airport. We got there at 9:15 pm and as we walked in, we saw Abby being walked around the baggage claim area with a NWA employee. She had felt so bad for this poor pup being in her crate that she took her outside to go potty and didn’t have the heart to put her back in her crate. No way could I get mad at her for taking Abby out of her crate! Abby was SO happy to get into my truck and instantly stopped shaking. We drove to just outside the airport and I let Abby walk around for a few minutes before we headed home. Marc and I have “joint custody” of our three sheeps and I had asked for him to keep all three of them until Abby was with her furever family. Abby stayed with us until Sunday, because Saturday we were under a tornado watch and they way Abby’s transport home had gone so far, I was not about to take a chance with the weather! Abby was a doll the whole time and we all fell in love with her.  If she hadn’t had a furever home already, I would have given it to her. Lucky Carmen!!
On Sunday Abby and I drove to Sioux City, IA to meet up with Carmen. Carmen and her husband Brett pulled up a few minutes after we did. It was very sad to say goodbye to Abby and I cried like a baby most of the ride home… But I could tell that she would be in good hands, so that was the good news of the day. Finally Abby was with her new family!  |
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| Oh boy! I thought some of my trips were challenging, you have me beat by a long shot! I am glad that things turned out okay. Thank goodness for good samaritans like the one for NWA that took her out of her crate. Send belly rubs when you talk to her new Momma and Poppa. |
| Hi Tarja,
What NWA put you through is totally unacceptable!! I work for an airline and live animals always have priority over baggage. The only exception is if there is human remains booked for cargo. You can not have human remains and live animals in the hold on the same aircraft and human remains get the priority. I would write a letter to NWA explaining, like you did in your post, exactly what happened and if you have the names of people you spoke to include those as well. Be as specific as possible and ask for a refund of all the shipping charges and if you had to pay for a crate, those charges as well. You should get a refund. Your complaint should be addressed to Northwest Airlines, Customer Care, P.O. Box 1908, Minot, ND 58702. PM me if you don't get a response within a reasonable time frame (3 weeks) and I will get the name of the head of cargo to direct your complaint. Hold the airline's feet to the fire for horrible service. Kathie |
kajochen wrote: I would write a letter to NWA...
Kathie I did write a letter, but that's not the address I was given. I will re-send it to the address you provided. Thank you!! I used to work for the airlines too, for about 4 years, and I remember it exactly as you said. |
| With the exception of the bad airline troubles, it sounds like your transport experience with Abby was great. What a lucky dog to find a new loving home at age 11. |
| Amazing story. I'm sooo glad Abby got t you safely. It must have been a bit traumatic for her. Sound slike she's a trooper and pulled through really well! |
Poor old girl, she must have been wondering what the heck was going on  . I hope you get a full refund for the ticket and a heartfelt apology |
I agree, poor Abby!  What a long day for her.
But the fact that she made it and is now at her new home makes it all worth it I'm sure. Great Job Tarja!! |
| It is always bittersweet when you drop them off with their new families! But you did a great job - on behalf of everyone in rescue with this great breed - THANKS! |
Thank goodness Abby made it to her new home safely! You did a terrific job, Tarja!
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| Tarja, you're an angel for working so diligently on Abby's behalf! I'm so glad to hear she has a wonderful new furever home.
And I totally agree - get that NWA!!  |
| I posted a couple of pictures of Abby in "my photos". |
| Aww, what a sweet looking girl! |
| At least she made it to her forever home and now has an exciting story to tell the other dogs that she meets! |
| My goodness what a fiasco!! Bless your hearts. And poor Abby being cooped up in her crate all that time just wondering what's going on.
Thankfully, she's in her new home all safe & sound now. What an ordeal! |
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