Reward Offered In Deadly Puppy Flight From Tulsa

NewsOn6.com 

TULSA, Oklahoma -- The Animal Legal Defense Fund is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to identification of the puppy mill involved in last summer's shipment of 15 puppies from Tulsa.

Seven of the 15 puppies didn't survive the delayed American Airlines flight from Tulsa International to Chicago O'Hare on August 3rd, 2010.

8/11/2010 Related story: American Airlines: Puppies' Deaths After Tulsa Flight Still Under Investigation

ALDF claims the unidentified mill violated Oklahoma state law when they shipped the puppies on a day when the temperatures and conditions would be dangerous.

'Oklahoma law defines animal cruelty to include the failure to provide necessary drink, shelter or veterinary care.  Death by dehydration and heat exposure due to confinement in the belly of an airline sitting on a hot tarmac in Tulsa during an ongoing August heat wave would certainly qualify.  Moreover, Oklahoma's cruelty law includes any person who willfully sets afoot, instigates or in any way furthers any act "tending to produce" cruelty.'

The temperature at Tulsa International Airport at the time the animals were loaded onto the plane was 85 degrees. The mercury rose to 87 when the plane departed.

American Airline employees noted the puppies looked lethargic during the time the plane was delayed on the tarmac.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund is asking anyone with information about the unknown mill to call 503-231-1602 x306