When the fur flies.(up front: News / Trends / Advice)(pet transportation through airlines)

At vacation time, Whiskers and Buster can be a burden, but they should rarely be baggage--at least checked baggage.

In June 2005, the Safe Air Transport for Animals Act began requiring domestic airlines to report when animals flown on their planes died, were hurt, or were lost. In the first 10 months after the law went into effect, 54 incidents were reported (49 by major airlines).That's a fraction of the estimated 2 million pets flown each year, but it counts only reported incidents; many more may go unreported. And it's a number worth knowing for any pet owner.

Common problems include improper handling or crating, poor kennel design, heat exhaustion, heart and lung complications, wounds caused by escape attempts, and pre-existing conditions. The Department of Transportation details these incidents in its monthly Air Travel Consumer Report at airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/reports/index.htm. A sampling:

* Tommy the cat disappeared. "It appears inadequate kennel design ultimately caused this event."

* Cricket the cat was ill after being "loaded in the same cargo hold with dry ice."

* A Chinese Crested puppy died of diarrhea. "Stress, as a result of travel, may have contributed to the condition."

* A boxer dog was scratched. "While loading the dog onto the plane its kennel turned upside down."