Group blasts airlines over carry-on pets

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 7 (UPI) -- The Lung Association of Canada is campaigning against two airlines that have begun allowing small pets to be carried on board in cages.

Last week, Air Canada announced a maximum of four pets would be allowed on long flights as long as their carriers fit underneath a seat. WestJet Airlines already had the same policy, and the Lung Association is campaigning for both to consider the hazards to people with pet allergies, the Canwest News Service reported.

"In an age when we don't allow smoking on airplanes and we don't allow nut products on airplanes, why on Earth would you put animals in a passenger cabin at 40,000 feet in the air? It doesn't make any sense," association spokesman Cameron Bishop told the news agency.

He said the group has asked the airlines to at least offer some pet-free flights so travelers with allergies would have options, but neither is budging.

Air Canada spokeswoman Angela Mah told Canwest the carrier isn't going to change its policy.

"The vast majority of airlines around the world carry pets in the cabin," Mah said. "We believe our policy is prudent."