TOKYO — Though a pair of pet bulldogs died lately on a contract flight for U.S. navy personnel, the command that oversees these flights mentioned it’s diminished the general variety of pet fatalities by greater than half.

“We have made a number of adjustments over the past 12 months to enhance the protection of our pets as they journey and although one loss of life is just too many, now we have seen a 60% discount in pet fatalities from 2022,” Air Mobility Command spokesman 1st Lt. James Stewart informed Stars and Stripes by way of electronic mail Wednesday.

Regardless of the adjustments, Winter, an 11-year-old Outdated English bulldog, and Soju, a 5-year-old French bulldog, died of warmth stroke Aug. 17 en path to Seattle on an 8 ½-hour flight from Japan, their house owners, Tim and Anne Surette, informed Stars and Stripes on Monday.

Tim Surette mentioned the plane was not air conditioned on the best way from Misawa Air Base, Japan, to Seattle. The Protection Intelligence Company contactor and his spouse had been making a everlasting change of station from South Korea to Virginia.

“We deeply remorse the deaths of those pets,” Stewart mentioned. “We take the motion of households and pets very critically and that is why we have adjusted our procedures and have carried out adjustments to higher serve prospects.”

The Patriot Specific incessantly flies navy households and Protection Division staff making PCS strikes. After 4 pets died final 12 months on flights originating in Asia, the mobility command created a working group to establish enhancements to ease service members’ stress attributable to shifting with pets, Stewart mentioned.

Since then, the command has moved pets into climate-controlled terminals the place they will stick with their house owners till boarding; pets are loaded as late as attainable and floor crews use floor air-conditioning models, once they’re accessible, to chill decrease compartments within the plane.

The command additionally warns vacationers that sure breeds, together with snub- and short-nosed canine, are at better danger throughout air transport, Stewart mentioned.

Air Mobility Command continues to move at-risk breeds whereas many business airways don’t. Airways that also fly these breeds embody Eithad Airways, Copa Airways, Gulf Air, Aloha Air and Hawaiian Airways, in line with Petstravelog.com, a pet journey information and care web site.

Stewart mentioned the command “regarded into the circumstances” surrounding the Patriot Specific flight, which entails navy and contracted assist.

“As soon as passengers and pets had been loaded onto the aircraft, the worldwide constitution service personnel take over the rest of coordination for making ready the plane, passengers and pets for flight,” he mentioned.

“It’s at this level that AMC personnel had been now not concerned within the quick resolution making and preparation of flight, nevertheless AMC management and groups will proceed to work on enhancing processes for our households and their pets,” Stewart mentioned.

The command has additionally established an electronic mail contact field to debate pet journey and tackle procedures and issues. Each suggestion is reviewed to enhance the method, Stewart mentioned.

“Whereas we can not change the end result of this unlucky scenario, AMC management is analyzing the circumstances of this mission and are dedicated to doing all they will to cut back destructive outcomes whereas nonetheless offering pet transport for our service members,” he mentioned.