Yeah, but...
Am I the only person who read this and thought how did a bunch of grown-ups think putting a living creature into an overhead locker was a ridiculous idea? I realise that airplane staff wield a fair amount of power post 9/11, but did no-one there think that the dog would be in danger of suffocation and being crushed?
Clearly, UA are culpable because it was a member of their staff who caused this, but it seems to me that there was plenty of stupid going around in that cabin...
I'm sure the mother (and perhaps daughter) are filled with regret. Hard for me to sit in harsh judgment of them, however. A solo parent traveling with a child, baby, and puppy -- and you start facing orders which carry the force of law behind them? Of course, it's easy to say in retrospect that you go scorched earth and risk grounding the flight, being arrested, etc. to protect the dog. I think that becomes a lot tougher when being arrested means you're risking separating yourself from your kids and effectively handing them over to state custody. I'd imagine that possibility becomes even more complicated when you add additional factors like maternal instincts and being a minority in America challenging an authority figure, factors which are tough for me to truly empathize with.
I'd rather direct my energy towards the institutional negligence involved -- which I'd be shocked if was not a dominant factor given United's track record. Of the 24 animals that died on flights in the U.S. last year, 18 of them were on United flights. Of the 15 animals injured, 13 were on United. I'm guessing this isn't just bad luck.
You might be right, but I think you are taking a leap with your logic. Sticking a living creature in an overhead locker is inhumane, and we don't need the power of hindsight to draw this conclusion. I do accept that as I wasn't there, there is some guesswork in my response to this incident. I am sure you would admit the same!
I am probably being a little harsh on the owner, but I can tell you that this wouldn't have happened on my watch.
I am not supporting UA at all. I saw those stats re animals, and they would tend to indicate there is a problem there.