A six year old pet python that had outgrown her owner's home and was being shipped from East Anchorage to a bigger home at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo has died due to an airline's neglect. 16 foot, 130 lbs Belinda was shipped via Delta Airlines in a specially designed box. Everything went as-planned until Belinda got to Atlanta. There handlers put her at the wrong gate and left her at the wrong gate for five and a half hours, outside in 50 degree cold. The animal needed room temperatures of 80 to 90 degrees to survive. When zoo officials finally arrived at the Pensacola Regional Airport to pick her up, they found her to be dead. Belinda spent up to 31 hours in the box and ended up with full-body edema. According to the zoo vets, her liver couldn't take it, and so her liver gave out.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, from May 2005 to January 2007, three animals flying Delta Airlines have died, and that's compared to 17 on Continental Airlines, nine on American Airlines and eight on United Airlines.

The transportation of pet animals (not service animals) on commercial flights as cabin or checked luggage has become more difficult in recent years both for their owners and airlines. As a result, we are seeing higher numbers of pet animals die during and between connecting flights, so people are just not bringing their pets with them. The basic shipping regs for AVI cargo (live animals) are:

- Dogs and Cats must be shipped in kennels.
- Dogs and Cats must be able to stand up, lie in their natural positions, and circle around inside their kennels.
- Kennels must made of fiberglass, metal, or rigid plastic.
- Kennel doors must be constructed of metal.
- Pets under 12 weeks old must be certified by a vet for travel.
- A vet must certify a pet that is to be sedated during travel.
- Pregnant pets must be certified by a vet for travel.
- AVI bookings are restricted to one flight connection only.
- The number of pets shipped on any one aircraft are limited.
- 24 hour contact information for the shipper and receiver are required.
- Reptiles must be shipped in a warm and dark enclosure.
- Glass enclosures are prohibited.