Beginning next month, U.S. airlines will be required to provide monthly reports to DOT's Aviation Consumer Protection Division on any animal deaths or injuries during a flight. So in addition to the monthly on-time performance and lost baggage count, DOT will report on how safely the carriers deliver the family pet. While the airlines knew the requirement was coming since 2003, DOT just last week changed the reporting requirements. Instead of sending the animal care reports to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, DOT now wants the reports sent directly to its consumer affairs division. DOT determined that the agriculture unit could not forward the reports on a timely basis. The reports are to include information on specific incidents where an animal dies, is injured or escapes as well as any remedial action the carrier may take to prevent repeat incidents. The rules do not venture into defining what type of animals must be tracked, only noting it applies to animals that are kept as a "family household pet."

Docket: OST-2005-20331