April 30, 2022
Dear Editor,
The true nuttiness of the rest of the world has finally reached Australia: dogs are now allowed to travel in the passenger cabin on Australian airlines!
I can tell you firsthand (after some 40 years of regular international travel) the biggest problems: some dogs bring their truly wacky and infuriating owners, sending check-in/cabin staff and fellow passengers to distraction with unreasonable demands (including doggy-bags for the doggies’ later meals); the ghastliest animal noises and smells (not just from the dogs); transmission of fleas (no joke!); and – worst of all – when poochy-woochy needs a drink, the upheaval around and slopping of water over other passengers in the same seat row (especially those enjoying a nap) is almost matched by the difficulty of having to navigate doggy (and owners) traffic in aisles between stalls at far too many Melbourne Sunday markets!
Yours,
Howard Hutchins
Victoria, Australia