Supermodel Maggie Rizer: "United Airlines Killed Our Golden Retriever, Bea"

In her blog, the woman chronicles the events that resulted in the death of her beloved dog Bea during a commercial flight.

Forty-six dogs died traveling on commercial airlines in 2011, according to the Department of Transportation, as reported by the Huffington Post. In 2010, it was 39. If those numbers seem high, they should. We didn't realize the numbers were so high until supermodel Maggie Rizer's Golden Retriever died earlier this month on a United Airlines flight, and the story hit the Internet like a thunderbolt. 

By all accounts, Rizer -- a Vogue covergirl and a model for Calvin Klein, Versace, Tommy Hilfiger, Clinique, and Louis Vuitton -- loved her 2-year-old Golden Retriever named Bea. The dog was the titular hero of Rizer's blog, Bea Makes Three, which chronicled the life of the model, her family, and her three dogs. 

Rizer's most recent and final post is titled, simply, "United Airlines Killed Our Golden Retriever, Bea."

In it, Rizer details the circumstances of Bea's death, which occurred on a United flight from the East Coast to San Francisco, along with United's actions after the dog was discovered dead. 

According to Rizer, Bea and the other dogs were well prepared for the flight. To her credit, Rizer seems like the very definition of a responsible owner. She writes: 

"Beatrice had a perfect health record. She received a full examination and a health certificate four days before the flight, as is required by the Pet Safe program. This program is United’s branded on-board pet safety program. In addition to Pet Safe’s stringent requirements, we took every extra precaution we could think of. Both the dog’s kennels were labeled front to back with emergency numbers, flight information, and warnings. Their kennels were purchased specifically for the measurements and design specified by Pet Safe. We purchased special water bowls, which we filled with ice to ensure that the water wouldn’t spill and that it would last longer. We drove the six hours to New York City from our house in Northern New York state, so the dogs wouldn’t have to make a connecting flight. We paid United Airlines $1800.00, in addition to our plane tickets, to ensure the safety of our pets. Albert and Bea were very prepared travelers."

Yet, when Rizer arrived in San Francisco and made her way to the cargo terminal, a worker told her that one of her dogs had died. What's more, he told her the dog had been sent to a local vet for an autopsy -- an outrageous lie, it turns out, by a company looking to save its skin: 

"Over the next two hours the supervisor’s lie unraveled as it became clear that Bea was right behind a closed door the whole time, and he had been discussing how to handle the potential liability with his boss who had left and sticking to the divert-and-stall tactic that they had been taught."

Having recovered Bea, Rizer took the dog to her own vet for an autopsy. William Spangler performed the necropsy (a dog's autopsy), and determined that the dog had died from heatstroke. "Our little Beatrice died in pain, scared and alone," writes Rizer.

Dr. Spangler also told her that “in my experience it is not unusual for a single dog in airline transit to be affected while other dogs of the same breed survive the trip apparently unscathed.”

United officials apparenly believe that this fact -- Bea was the only dog who died -- cleared the airline. Rizer writes that United informed her that “our internal investigation does not show any irregularities, as evidenced by the fact that your companion dog and other animals on board did not suffer the same fate."

Rizer claims she does not want to sue United or have people boycott the airline. She just wants people to know the dangers of flying with their pets. 

"I am writing this to help make people aware that airlines are incapable of ensuring the safety of our pets," she writes. "All it takes is for one employee to not follow the proper procedure and then like me, your dog is dead."

"I can’t say exactly what happened to Beatrice on the plane two weeks ago. If United had been able to be honest, it would have helped us to find closure. All I know is what the necropsy told us, Beatrice died from heatstroke."

"It is said to be an agonizing death."

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Special-Needs Pet of the Week: Maggie

It's been a while since we've featured Barbara Techel's wonderful posts on special-needs dogs here, but going forward we'll do our best to feature these sweeties on the blog most Tuesdays. — Janine K.

What is your pet's name?

Maggie

How old is your pet?

She is two years old as of September 21st.

What is your pet's physical challenge?

Maggie is blind. I think some days (though rarely), she can see shapes. It scares her terribly on days like that and she doesn't leave my side. But most days she sees nothing.

What is your pet's favorite thing to do?

Maggie's favorite thing to do is play in the water sprinkler when it's hot. She also loves to cuddle and oh, there's the belly rubs — can't forget those.

What do you love most about your pet?

What I love about Maggie is how she is so sweet and ready to go and do anything with me despite her blindness. She's incredibly smart. She also gives the best kisses!

What has your pet most taught you?

I don't know if she has really taught me this, but special-needs dogs are just that, special. Everyone should open their home to a special dog. Her blindness has taught me to see things differently and how she adapts to things is amazing. She's always happy.

Anything else you'd like to share?

It took a while for us to figure out that Maggie couldn't see. She was in a swarm of little black puppies. All rolling around and falling over etc. But it started to show when she would bump into the walls or fall into the food dishes as she got a little older. I took her to the vet and they did a quick look and said "Yup, she's blind. Will you be putting her down?" Um. NO! I WILL NOT! My now EX-vet didn't even want to discuss what was wrong. They just dismissed her. (I still do not know why she's blind; it really doesn't matter.) Maggie does perfectly well here with me and her parents and brother. She knows this house and yard, every inch of it. I keep the chairs pushed in and things out of the middle of the floor. She has no problems. Her food and water are in the same place all the time, she goes right to it.

When we go outside, she runs like the rest of the pack. Most people don't believe she is blind, and they wouldn't have known if I didn't tell them. If I think shes going to run into something I yell "CAREFUL" and she stops. "EASY" means slow down. I can direct her through the woods (we walk on the hill every day) by telling her easy, over, wait for me, etc.

If we are on a strange trail she stays next to me, Mica, Timber, or One Ton. They all look out for her and will get between her and a bank or tree. Its truly amazing to watch those dogs watch out for her.

We do have a few issues we had to work around — it's not all easy. I have to watch out in the yard when the dogs are running. The others will swerve around me, but Maggie has ran me over a couple times (clipped my legs as she goes by) and down I go. Then she comes back and kisses me 'cause she's sorry.

I've wrapped my clothesline posts in snow fencing in case she hits them. Its not pretty, but it keeps her from getting hurt too much. We still get bumps and bruises some days but as she ages it doesn't happen so much anymore.

She is slow to warm up to strangers. She does best if they don't try to touch her right away. But if given time to listen to them and be around them, soon she's laying on the ground, belly up, going "Rub my belly!"

Pictured Above: Maggie with mommy, Mica, daddy, One Ton, and brother, Timber

P.S. If you care for a special-needs pet and would like your pet featured, e-mail Barbara through her website. Send a photo and she will forward the questionnaire for your pet to be featured in an upcoming post.

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