Landing in Toronto
Then, after seven and a half hours the relieving words of the captain: in some minutes we are going to land in Toronto; sunshine and summer temperatures - in contrary to Europe. I was at the first destination of my long awaited vacation.

Where are my dogs
While leaving the plane a stewardess said to me that in few minutes I would see my dogs. But what happened then and would furtheron happen, I had never in my life expected, this vacation turned to be no vacation but a horror trip: Just at the gangway I was asked by a woman from the ground crew if I was Mrs. Friedl and I said yes, with the remark that now I would be brought to my dogs. The answer hit me like a punch: NO, YOUR DOGS ARE IN PARIS ..... Everyone will imagine what went on in me now.

AIR FRANCE forgets dogs in Paris
That also my luggage had been left behind in in Paris, did not interest me in any way, but it seemed to be the special attention of the airline, as they had only interest to hand over 150 CAD to me, so that I would be able to buy the most important things until my suitcases would arrive. Concerning information about the dogs they just ignored things after they had told me that for sure the two would be taken care of properly.

AIR FRANCE does not know where the dogs are
As soon as I was out of the airport I called the breeder of the puppy as well as Yazoo's breeder in France. As well from Austria as from France people tried to get information about the dogs at the airport in Paris. Through the american Briard-List we informed and asked for help. AIR FRANCE in Paris excelled by either nobody picking up the phone or incompetent people were replying the calls. That was how it continued till deep in the night. NO information about the dogs - we did not even know where they were, at the airport, in a boarding kennel or what so ever.
The statement on the next day, that AIR FRANCE did not know if the dogs were on flight #358 made us thinking. They said there was only a telefax telling that both the dogs should be loaded. My Canadian friends and I decided to not take the hired car as we feared that this one would probably not be big enough for the kennel boxes and the luggage; they would bring me to the airport with their van and would helpfully assist me. A call at the hire company brought up that AIR FRANCE had not even ordered a car. What a reliable airline - really to recommend!

Veterinary on call
Together with the woman who should pick up the puppy, my Canadian friends decided that we should consult a veterinary after the arrival of the dogs, to have them checked as a precaution. A friend of the woman to pick up the puppy would be on call.

Arrival of the dogs
Finally arrival of flight #358 from Paris. We were brought to the luggage counter, my suit cases were already there, but not the dogs. Then puppy barking ........ and an awful stink before the dogs were in sight. The look that was "offered" to us made our blood freeze in the veins: Yazoo was lying apathetic in her crate, with sunken eyes that stared into space, nearly no breathing, she did not know me. The puppy did not make a poor impression, it was happy when we spoke to it. The crate of Yazoo abounded completely in dirt, the one of the puppy not that much.

Veterinary help URGENTLY necessary
The veterinary was called immediately, on the part of Canadian Food Inspection we were immediately seen off the airport building, so that we could care about the dogs that were not allowed to be let out of the crates in the building.The veterinary was present fast, with an equipment as if he had suspected what would come towards us. Yazoo could not get out of her crate alone, we had to pull her out. The puppy came out of the crate happily, but seemed exhausted and panted incredibly much.

The veterinary detected dehydration with Yazoo, the pulse was nearly not to feel, pigmentation in the mouth was nearly white, no reaction to any words, she through up slime several times. She was given IV immediately and a shot for promoting the blood circulation.The puppy had not lost too much body liquid, but got a bit of the IV to be on the safe side. Some time later it was allowed to offer the puppy water and food. I was informed later on that there had not been any more problems with the puppy: the small girl had arrived her new home sound and happy.

Veterinary report for activities of authority
After having finished his treatment the veterinary had to give his report, prior he got my statement about watering and feeding the dogs: The puppy had had water after the departure from Vienna and had for sure been taken out of the crate. Yazoo had been without water for about 40 hours (although I had fixed a water bowl at the inside of the crate door, where it still was after arrival in Toronto. Easily water could have been offered from outside) and for sure she had not been taken out of the crate, had been lying in there for about 40 hours. She had lost between 30 and 50 percent of her body liquid. Ahead of departure from Vienna on Friday the puppy had been last time fed on Thursday afternoon, "Yazoo" on Thursday morning. The puppy food that had been attached to the crate was not touched and still fixed to the crate. Both the dogs had not been fed, the excrements in the crates were the rest of digestion since Thursday. According to the statement of the veterinary Yazoo would have only survived another 2 to 4 hours.

The outcome for us out of AIR FRANCEcause
On account of the negligence of AIR FRANCE the following things turned up in my vacation, which was no vacation: A big veterinary bill (which I have of course paid with pleasure!!!), the first shows in Canada expired. The flight to Philadelphia expired as well, furtheron the entered shows in the States. I visited my American friends, but I went there with the car and had to live in a hotel. Back in Canada no feeling for vacation turned up, because slowly Yazoo had to be prepared to get into a crate again. And because my hostages were fed up that I cared for my dog and not mainly for them, the threw me out of the house after they had locked Yazoo and me for one full day without anything to eat for me. In the evening they forced me to sign off their three dogs which we had in co-ownership or they would send them all back with me. I had to sign off, I could not fly home with 4 Briards and the Yorky as I had totally ran out of money. I had to decide for a premature departure and therewith the further shows in Canada also expired. I was brought to the airport by the hostage but he dropped everything off on the pavement and left. Thankfully some kind people helped me get my suitcases and the dog crates to the airport.  I was scared to switch plane in Paris, so I flew up there, checked out with Gizmo and Yazoo and went by car and train - spread over several days through several countries - back to Austria. These days then turned to be a bit of relaxing and recreation for my dogs and myself.

Upshot
Until now there is no word of regret from side of AIR FRANCE, no excise, just nothing towards me personally. Also the transmission of this happening in the Canadian TV did not bring a reaction, just lapidary the comment of a manager to the reporter, that she should tell me, that there would be an arrangement in some way. Another phone call at AIR FRANCE in Canada made the one on the other end hang up when he heard my name. Back in Vienna I have authorized the lawyers' office where I work; we will see how things continue. In some weeks we will have checked if Yazoo's kidneys have come to harm; I hope not. But, anyway, I have gained a real big victory: YAZOO IS ALIVE - no show result can ever come close to that win!

May 1, 2004
Yesterday I went through one of our daily newspapers and found an article reporting about the Horrortrip of Yazoo in August 2000. Some weeks ago I was asked about that event, because they had found this story in my homepage, and at the occasion of the beginning travelling season the topic "Flying with animals" was planned to be taken up. At that time nobody could tell me when this article would be published. On May 1, time had come ..........

With a click on the thumbnail you can get to that report. Yazoo's Story is in the very right columns (only available in German language).

April 7, 2009
In the March issue of a Swiss animal journal under the topic "Holiday with animals" the following article was printed. After nearly nine years Yazoo's horror trip is still not forgotten.

A click on the thumbnail brings you to that article (only available in German language).