SEVERAL individuals participated in a protest against United Airlines’ lack of pet shipping service.
Organized by the Boonie Babies, the protest was held outside the Saipan airport at around 8 a.m. on Wednesday.
The Boonie Babies and Saipan Humane Society have expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of options to ship pets out of or into the CNMI and Guam.
According to Grace Keilbach, co-founder of Boonie Babies, the protest seeks to bring awareness to United Airlines about how the lack of pet shipping service for the Marianas impacts pet owners.
If new homes are not found, these pet owners abandon the dogs or place them at the Saipan Dog Control Program animal shelter, where the animals will be euthanized if they are not adopted, Keilbach said.
She said although Boonie Babies attempts to rescue dogs, the organization has limited capacity.
According to Variety files, there are over 20,000 stray animals in the CNMI.
“We rescue a dog, we rehabilitate it, but there’s no one interested [on Saipan] in adopting,” Keilbach said. “And, in addition to that, pets are being left behind at an alarming rate as well.”
She said they feel “ignored” by United Airlines, despite attempts to communicate with the company.
“We are hoping that United will open up Pet Safe shipping again,” she said. “[It is the program] allowing animals to travel in the cargo hold. As of now, the only way to ship your pets off island is through private shippers, which is not consistent, [and is expensive],” she added.
Sandy Weaver, an animal lover and realtor who participated in the protest, said would-be off island clients have backed out of deals because they cannot move their pets to Saipan.
“I have a lot of clients that want to move from the states to Saipan with their pets and are unable to because they found out they can’t ship them,” she said. “They notify me before they move out here with what airline they’re flying and with how many pets they’re trying to bring over and they’re unable to because United won’t ship pets. It’s family to them.”
Tina Ngo, another protestor, has traveled between Saipan and California and has experience moving cats between the locations.
“I’d literally save tens of thousands of dollars if United had its pet shipping service,” Ngo said. “I’m lucky because I had the savings to use these private pet charter services and move my pets with me, but I know that most folks don’t. They’re left with a really impossible choice, heartbreaking either way.”
Kim Morgan, a protestor, is moving to Colorado this summer. She said she has to first travel to South Korea and then California on T’Way Airlines because it is the only way to move her animals.
“I don’t believe in ever leaving a family member behind,” she said, referring to her pets. “I would love United to [allow] pets on planes. They should be able to go in the cargo or on board so that you can easily transit your pet off island.”
Variety was unable to get a comment from United Airlines.
Animal welfare activists protest United Airlines’ lack of pet shipping services for the CNMI on Wednesday.
A youth activist joins the protest against United Airlines organized by the Boonie Babies.
Sandy Weaver
Kim Morgan and her dog Tabouleh
Aria Keilbach. Emily Chmela, Grace Keilbach and other animal welfare activists want United Airlines to provide pet shipping services for the CNMI.
