A Cloverdale woman is frustrated, claiming Air Canada lost the cat that was on his way from Montreal to join her family.
Amanda Stewart says that on Wednesday, her seven-month-old Blue Scottish Fold named Chester was supposed to be shipped by a breeder in Montreal.
Chester’s kennel was dropped off by the breeder’s sister at the Montreal airport around 10 a.m. Somehow, while waiting to get onto his flight, he escaped and has not been seen since.
“We are doing all possible to look for the escaped cat,” said Air Canada to Global News in a statement. “We have examined the kennel as part of our investigation into this situation and found the kennel bottom had become unsecured.”
But Stewart doesn’t think that’s what happened, claiming both the breeder’s sister and an Air Canada employee checked the kennel door before handing over the cat. She also says the door had a zip tie on it.
Stewart says Air Canada has now told her it has contacted a nearby golf course and local SPCA. Employees are also searching the area around the airport.
Air Canada has told her it sent pictures of the cat to every airport as well, “which makes no sense,” says Stewart.
She says the cat’s breeder in Montreal is devastated by the news.
Both the breeder and Stewart suspect Chester may have been stolen.
“He is a show cat, and a very expensive cat,” says Stewart.
He has also become a bit of celebrity in Montreal after a local artist made a painting of him.
Meanwhile, Air Canada says they ship thousands of animals every year and escaped animals are rare.
But it is not the first time the airline has been accused of misplacing pets.
Last October, Air Canada lost a dog during a plane change in Vancouver. The dog’s body was eventually found at the end of the runway at YVR. It was attacked and killed by an eagle. The investigation revealed the kennel’s clasps became unlatched, which enabled the dog to escape.
Comments