More dogs die on United than on any other airline. Here's why

Of the 506,994 animals that flew on US commercial air carriers last year, 24 of those animals died in transit. And 18 of those deaths - 75% - occurred on United Airlines. Up until last month, United continued to accept "snub-nosed" breeds for cargo shipments. The airline's rationale: For people who needed to travel with a boxer or a bulldog, United was often the only way their dog could travel by air. United says they consistently alerted customers to the heightened danger of putting their higher-risk dog on a plane. But ultimately, they say, airline representatives left it to customers to decide if their pet could handle the trip. From 2015 to 2017, 85 animals died while in the care of a US air carrier. Of those deaths, 41 occurred on United. Nearly 40% of those deaths occurred to a dog that was identified as a higher-risk breed. <br/>