When moving, there are many things to think about, especially when moving to another continent. And when James and Madison Miller moved from England to the USA, they not only had to look out for themselves, but also for their dog Bluebell – after all, the Labrador was supposed to accompany them across the pond.
So the couple prepared everything, organized the flight for themselves and the pet. But the move turned into a disaster. “We did everything we could to take Bluebell to America,” James Miller told NPR. “But it ended in a nightmare.” While he and his wife landed in their new home in Nashville, Tennessee, as planned, there was no trace of the dog. It turned out that Bluebell ended up in Saudi Arabia instead.
The reason was an error at the airline British Airways and its sister company IAG Cargo. The airline put the animal on the wrong plane and transported it about 6,000 kilometers in the wrong direction. “When the employees noticed the mistake, they went pale in the face,” said James Miller. Instead of moving into a new home together in the USA, Bluebell and her owners are now 16,000 kilometers apart.
The Millers were understandably upset and worried. They asked the airline for a “sign of life” from their dog and were shown a photo of Bluebell in a carrier. The company told NPR that the five-year-old animal was always well taken care of. Bluebell was given water and was able to stretch her legs at the airport.
Nevertheless, the journey was a great strain for the animal: according to the Miller couple, Bluebell had to spend more than 60 hours in a cage, was given little to eat and hardly saw the daylight. It took two more days for the dog to make it to the United States – partly because the airline did not fly them to the United States on a direct flight, instead Bluebell had to make two intercontinental flights.
The odyssey left deep marks on the dog, reports James Miller. “We can’t leave him alone anymore.” He needs medication and had to undergo therapy. James and Madison Miller want the airline to reimburse them for the costs – almost $10,000. However, the latter refuses and has so far only offered the couple 50,000 free miles as compensation.
Sources: NPR / “Mirror”
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