At the end of August, the fate of Polaris, a six-month-old German shepherd, appeared to be sealed. Arriving at the San Francisco airport on a flight from China, he was denied entry to the United States by health authorities.
The importation of animals into the United States is subject to strict regulations, especially when they come from China, a country included in the red list by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States.
The puppy’s owner, who had not carried out the necessary administrative procedures, had finally decided to abandon the animal and continue his journey alone, heading to New York.
“The initial options were bleak. Polaris should have been euthanized upon return to China or shot locally,” explains the Washington Post Vincent Passafiume, director of customer relations for United, the US airline that handled the case.
four month quarantine
Two perspectives that United Airlines employees could not resolve. After intense lobbying with health authorities, Polaris, named after the airline’s business class, was finally allowed to return to US soil, provided it submitted to a four-month quarantine.
During this period, and waiting to find a new family at Polaris, United’s offices inside the San Francisco airport are completely redesigned to meet the needs of the dog. A shelter is built for him, the employees take turns checking that he is okay and dog sitters they are even requisitioned to give him food, drink, take him for a walk and entertain him.
“In total, about 50 employees visited him,” explains Vincent Passfiume. “He Became a Celebrity at the San Francisco Airport”. To end her quarantine period, Polaris is even sent to a special facility in Los Angeles. Travel first class on a United flight.
Adopted by an airline pilot
Meanwhile, the San Francisco-based chapter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is hired by the airline to find a foster family at Polaris. With only one condition.
“We really wanted Polaris to remain in the United family, because our team was totally rallied around it,” continues Vincent Passafiume.
A total of 35 applications to adopt the animal were received. “We are honored that United used our services to facilitate this adoption, in connection with our knowledge and experience,” Lisa Feder, in charge of rescues within the San Francisco SPCA, said in a press release.
It is finally William Dale, airline pilot of the company recently installed in the Californian city, who is selected to adopt Polaris. “I just hope we can take care of him as well as the United coaching staff did,” he said in the columns of the Washington Post.
Donation of 5000 dollars and cupcakes
“It’s a wonderful feeling to see this story come to an end and to know that Polaris will have a loving home with Pilot Dale and his family, just in time for the Christmas season,” said Vincent Passfiume.
At the same time, United donated $5,000 (4,700 euros) to the San Francisco SCPA, “to support their rescue efforts throughout the year by helping animals that are sick, injured, homeless or in need of help,” reports the guardian.
To celebrate Polaris’s adoption, a party was thrown at the San Francisco airport on December 15, complete with the key, cupcakes, and bone-shaped candy. Among the guests: Brixton, a passenger therapy golden retriever.
Source: BFM TV
