Fears for the JET PETS

Ex-worker's concern over welfare of animals carried through airport as cargo

- NEAL KEELING

IT was a sight that appalled veteran airport worker Paul Derrig. Left in the scorching heat outside an aircraft was a dog inside a cage.

He took a picture of the pet, the beginning of a two-year fight to get better treatment for animals being transported through Manchester Airport.

Paul, 59, a water services engineer for 25 years at the airport and before that a baggage handler, was appalled to discover there was no animal welfare policy. He claims the way pets are handled through the airport has reduced some staff to tears.

But Manchester Airport says the responsibility for animal welfare is down to individual airlines. They say storage facilities exist for each cargo handler company so animals should not be left on the airfield if flights are delayed. They say it is standard policy to get areas around gateways clear of baggage including any animals - as soon as possible for safety reasons.

But they concede that the incident with the dog left in baking temperatures should never have happened.

Paul said: "After working for 35 years at Manchester Airport, I have recently retired and in the last two years I raised many concerns regarding the welfare of animals travelling as cargo throughout the airport.