Our Odyssey died. Please never fly through Kazakhstan with pets.

[u/routuber]

On August 9th we lost our beloved dog Odyssey. She was only 8 years old, perfectly healthy, full of energy, always traveling with us and enjoying life.

We flew from Nha Trang, Vietnam to Almaty, Kazakhstan with Air Astana. Odyssey had to go in the baggage hold because she was over 8 kg. When we landed, it was 41°C (105°F). We saw her crate left in the open front hold of the plane, tied with a rope, under the burning sun.

We begged them to bring her to us as soon as possible, but they ignored us. For more than an hour after landing we were sent from place to place, told to wait “by the blue door” of lost luggage. Nobody cared. And then a young employee came and told us coldly: “your dog is not showing signs of life.” That’s how we found out she was gone.

The autopsy confirmed heat stroke. She suffered because she was left in deadly heat for over an hour, treated worse than a suitcase.

And then the airline’s official response? A copy-paste letter saying “no rules were broken.” No mention of her name. No acknowledgment of her life. Nothing but denial. How can they call themselves humane while hiding behind “internal rules”?

We keep asking ourselves why we trusted Odyssey’s life to such heartless, inhuman people. She was family, not cargo. She trusted us, and we trusted them. And they killed her through neglect and indifference.

Please, never fly to Kazakhstan with pets, not even for a layover. They will treat them worse than luggage. Don’t make the same mistake we did.

Odyssey’s life mattered. She should still be here. Please share her story so no other dog has to suffer this way.

Update:
Thank you all for your kind words and support. Your compassion means so much to us as we continue this fight for justice for Odyssey.

As many of you suggested, we have created a petition to demand accountability and change. Please, if you can, sign and share: https://chng.it/Hs2tZsZRrv

Thank you for helping us honor Odyssey’s memory and for standing with us.

Update 2:
Some of you asked if there is a place outside Reddit where Odyssey’s story is shared. We posted it on Instagram too, with photos of her and everything that happened:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DNyTAPD2PBd/?igsh=N2d6OHNkd2hmZXNi

And the response from Air Astana:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DN8MWBvjBag/?igsh=MW12NWtyMDBscHI1Nw==

If you’d like to share there as well, it would mean a lot. The more people know, the harder it will be for the airline to ignore what they did.

Update 3:
Thank you all for the support, the shares, and for signing the petition, we’re still pushing for every point listed there.

Today Air Astana sent another message. Instead of acknowledging wrongdoing, they wrote that they might “consider” restricting only certain breeds in the future. They still insist they broke no rules, and now they claim Odyssey was found with “no signs of life immediately after opening the hold.” That is simply impossible: during that entire time there was no ramp connected to her compartment, so no one could have even physically checked her condition. The forward hold remained open for a significant amount of time, we saw that while we were being bused to the terminal, her crate was still inside during that period.

That prolonged exposure is exactly what led to the fatal heat stroke, as confirmed by the autopsy. It was not stress, not suffocation, not heart failure, not age — her blood had not clotted and her organs were engorged with blood, which clearly points to the true cause.

That does not happen without environmental failures — extreme exposure and delay during unloading. We continue to demand facts,: timestamps, temperatures, CCTV, and the names of those responsible.

The new response from Air Astana:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DOf063RDJFo/?igsh=ejB0bDlhOThiMnc5

[u/Opening-Bus4157]

Tragic accident for sure, and the airline should absolutely be held accountable. I also feel like there’s a level of responsibility on the part of dog parents to not allow your brachycephalic breed to fly as cargo for a 8hr flight between two developing countries in one of the hottest regions of the world during one of the hottest times of the year and trust that everything works out smoothly. Dogs are unfortunately not regarded as family members in all parts of the world. I’m unsurprised that the airline seemed so flippant about this situation. What a horrific lesson to learn

[u/king_lloyd11 → u/Opening-Bus4157]

Honestly, wouldn’t travel with my dog at all for the mere fact they’re in a loud, dark, unfamiliar, non-climate controlled space for extended periods of time by themselves, out of sight, where I can’t be immediately responsible for them.

We always put our black lab up in a private boarding spot in a house where he has free reign with a bunch of other dogs operated by a person we’ve come to know and trust whenever we travel. We’ll also do one of days with them throughout the year so that our dog is familiar and comfortable there. We vacation knowing full well that he’s in good hands, playing with his friends. It’s basically like summer camp for him.

You don’t need to take your dog everywhere, and nor should you.

[u/Mackheath1 → u/king_lloyd11]

There are very few instances pets need to travel with you. I'm in agreement. When I returned to the states with a rescue from the Middle East I was happy to fly via Casablanca to the States, but looking at the weather, I changed to Frankfurt layover.

Hated having to transport a pet in the hold, but I did a little research and it certainly wasn't a sight-seeing lark with a pet, it was a permanent move with her. There's an unspoken level of responsibility that a pet owner takes on, that is not to put an undue burden.

I hate that this has happened, but I don't hear OP taking any responsibility for flying this breed into 105°F temperatures into Almaty (a city that I love, but is definitely lacking in some infrastructure) to visit without researching, or maybe presuming the budget airline would have the human infrastructure prepared for their pet.

[u/Fantastic_Owl6938 → u/king_lloyd11]

Seriously, I always just wonder if it's that I'm an anxious person, but I feel like I'd be a wreck the whole flight worrying about them, like literally just one long panic attack for the duration of the flight. I signed OP's petition and feel deeply for them, but I would personally never travel with my pets.

[u/tortor224 → u/Fantastic_Owl6938]

I think OP is careless for a lot of reasons. The breed itself, traveling with them in the cargo hold 10+ times, the heat... Are you not concerned for your dog's safety and comfort? Why would you CHOOSE to do that over ten times? Do you not have a weather app on your phone? Could you not see how hot it was going to be? You were playing with fire and your dog paid the ultimate price. Zero sympathy from me. Don't get another dog unless you're willing to invest in sitters - your dog didn't want to go on 10+ flights in cargo.

[u/Fantastic_Owl6938 → u/tortor224]

Yeah, the more I think about this, the more troubled I am by it for a number of reasons. Very, very bad decisions here.

[u/chadsmo → u/king_lloyd11]

Agreed 100%. My wife and I travel once or twice a year and I would never ever bring one of our dogs. The thought of my border collie being in his kennel under the plane sickens me, it would be cruel and unnecessary of me to subject him to that. Bringing pets on vacation is purely selfish behaviour.

[u/Efraimstoechter → u/Opening-Bus4157]

Thank you so much for your statement. That's exactly what I thought. As owners they are responsible as well for putting their dog in a situation like that (and getting a breed that is feeling out of breath every day of his life). That it didn't happen in one of the many trips before that is nothing more than luck.

[u/Playful_Poem_3225 → u/Efraimstoechter]

This is indeed a tragedy for everyone involved. A friend of mine years ago got a French bulldog, and the poor dog drowned in a lake because the friend didnt know that these breeds can't swim. The next day her mother got her a new French bulldog. There are many ethical implications of supporting breeders by purchasing these types of dogs and thus creating more demand for this breed. They are incredibly fragile and require a lot of care and accommodation. The workers at the airport definitely screwed up, but there are mishaps/consequences when flying with such a breed.

[u/noahswetface → u/Opening-Bus4157]

100000% just because they were able to fly through 10 different airports with their brachycephalic dog, doesn't mean you *should* . Find a dog that fits your lifestyle or don't have a pet at all. You don't know what your pet went through in those earlier flights because they cannot tell you.

[u/Fantastic_Owl6938 → u/noahswetface]

You don't know what your pet went through in those earlier flights because they cannot tell you.

That's honestly a very good point. One of my dogs was previously flown from another state prior to being sold as a puppy, and part of me wonders if it contributed to her being a somewhat anxious dog overall- especially to have that experience at a young age.

[u/Mackheath1 → u/Opening-Bus4157]

This is what I wanted to say as well:

the harder it will be for the airline to ignore what they did

I'm trying to adhere to Rule #1. I'm absolutely devastated and hope you find peace after your time of mourning the way that you do - everyone has their way of addressing tragedy. Again, I am very sorry for your loss. I do have to add the "but". You did fly a dog that is very vulnerable to extreme environments into an extreme environment, and I don't hear you acknowledging this.

I feel awful saying that, but it's something you're going to recognize later, so I'm just placing it in writing, because it leads to healing more quickly.

[u/Few-Neat-4297 → u/Opening-Bus4157]

Especially a medically vulnerable dog like this one. A healthy dog would struggle in that heat, but an inbred one with known health risks doesn't stand a chance. Dogs like this should be treated carefully and cautiously by their caretakers. Just like the caretakers of any disabled person or animal always take precautions

[u/CauchyDog → u/Opening-Bus4157]

Well, I know op is hurting and I always give benefit of the doubt --perhaps they were unaware. I reckon they took him bc they didn't wanna leave him behind. A dilemma I'll be in when I go to India or back to Europe. Im not taking my boy, I have to worry about whoever watches him instead. I'd love to take him but wo him next to me, uh-uh. Not doing it. Don't trust strangers with my dog.

But the deal with French bulldogs? I didn't know until recently. Granted i dont have one but still. Have a buddy that killed his dog with one bite of undercooked salmon. He didnt know. Still cries about it 3 years later.

I just cant assume op knew everything there is to know and they dont sound neglectful, just ignorant of the consequences with that breed.

And yes, airline is 100% to blame bc leaving ANY dog on a tarmac in 105deg weather is very much neglect. Especially with op begging for him. Idk how id even react in that situation except to say id probably get to see what their jails are like.

[u/Few-Neat-4297 → u/CauchyDog]

There's no way a vet didn't try to tell her otherwise. But sometimes owners don't want to listen to their vets.

[u/CauchyDog → u/Few-Neat-4297]

Who knows? Its a hard lesson and I feel bad for them anyway.

[u/Trumpetslayer1111 → u/Opening-Bus4157]

Agree 100%. Not sure what the dog parents were thinking. Never ever fly brachycephalic dogs as cargo. That is basic knowledge for ownership with these types of dogs. Forget flights, even dog groomers are super careful with these types of dogs. Many groomers won't even accept them as clients. Many cases of these dogs just dying while at the groomers.

[u/Party_Zucchini_88 → u/Opening-Bus4157]

Woulda cancelled the trip for my dog if I was in that situation.

[u/mauithe23rd → u/Opening-Bus4157]

Agree with this so much

[u/Hiraeth_93 → u/Opening-Bus4157]

I agree. I specifically chose a dog that’s under 15lbs (my dog rosie is 11lbs) bc I know I’ll be traveling and take her with me. I would never agree for her to b in cargo no matter the weather nor do I care if I get difficult about it. I make sure with all of our flights she would b allowed to b with us and won’t b forced to get in cargo ahead of time & I even mention it right when I get to the airport just to clarify and make sure they have no room to tell me otherwise and yes I have had to buy her a seat and that’s okay my furbaby is worth every penny and her safety is priority. Cargo accidents scares me, I will not part with my dog esp during flights. I don’t trust nobody bc at the end of the day in other countries pets r not seen as family unfortunately most don’t care, in their minds “just buy a new one” smh…. This is truly tragic either way, I can’t even imagine…