Puppy as Air Freight Means VIP Treatment for a Special Passenger

US – NETHERLANDS – The cargo which every freight forwarder often wishes to shy away from is anything alive, the stresses and strains imposed on both flora and fauna can, if handled improperly, lead to tragic consequences. And so there was probably some trepidation at American Airlines Cargo when Tiffany the dog became that company’s first ever live animal movement between the Netherlands and the US, especially as Tiffany is a particularly rare and valuable puppy.

Tiffany is a Dutch Smoushond and her fragility and rarity required particular handling and care after specialist animal movements’ forwarder, Animals to Fly, called on AA Cargo to organise her transport to Philadelphia. The VIP puppy saw AA Cargo’s GSA in The Netherlands, FlyUs, assigned animal loving team members Patrick Smidt and Benny Bekker to take care of this very special passenger.

The night before her flight she was brought to the Animals by Air facility where she slept overnight and on the morning of departure she played happily and had a walk before being taken to the aircraft. As a very unusual breed she created quite a stir during the check-in process. Safely loaded onto the B757 aircraft for the flight Tiffany was re-united with her delighted owners just nine hours later. Patrick Smidt of FlyUs commented:

“We are so pleased and proud of how Tiffany’s journey went we now have a photo of her hanging in a special place on our office wall. We’ll never forget our first Tiffany and we believe she is a trail blazer for many others to fly with American Airlines Cargo.”

The Dutch Smoushond (Hollandse Smoushond) is a small breed of dog descended from a type of terrier kept in stables to eliminate rats and mice in Germany and The Netherlands. It is very rare and not well-known outside its country of origin.

Photo: Tiffany with tail in full ‘wag’ mode and (inset) ready to fly.