#Brazil‘s #Golairlines killed this man’s best friend after they sent the dog to the wrong city. #Play was only supposed to travel 2.5 hours but instead was sent on an 8 hour trip, left out in the hot sun without water, and not given vet care until he died.
#justicaparajoca pic.twitter.com/lcHyZyhsbi
— A Fly Guy’s Crew Lounge (@AFlyGuyTravels) May 1, 2024
A wave of grief and anger is sweeping Brazil following the tragic death of Juca, a beloved golden retriever, who died after being flown to the wrong city and left unattended on the hot runway for more than an hour. The difficult incident began when Jouca’s owner, Joao Fantazzini, entrusted his furry friend to the crew of the Brazilian airline Gol Airlines, on a flight from Sao Paulo to Fortaleza. However, in a disastrous error, Juca was instead sent on a journey north to Manaus, nearly 2,800 kilometers away.
The inexcusable negligence did not end there. Upon his arrival in Manaus, 4-year-old Juca, who was reportedly left in the crate he was traveling with, was left on the asphalt exposed to the brutal Amazonian heat, which can rise above 31 degrees during the day. By the time the airline realized its mistake and returned Juca to Sao Paulo, it was too late. The dog, which had been subjected to extreme temperatures and dehydration for an extended period of time, succumbed and died.
On air: Juliana Tozzi, Veterinarian and Advisor at CRMV-ES.
THEME: Joca Case – Guidelines for pet air transport in the country.
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Image/João Fantazzini with Joca, Golden Retriever, dead after being sent to the wrong airport by Gol: Personal Archive pic.twitter.com/9V57c2XHP9— CBN Vitória (@cbnvitoria) April 29, 2024
Fantazini, who had been anxiously awaiting the arrival of Juca in Fortaleza, encountered the horrifying news upon his return to Sao Paulo. The heartbroken owner has since spoken out publicly, expressing his anger at Gol’s indifference, which ultimately cost Jukka his life. On his personal Instagram page and that of Zucca, Fantazini posted a post in which he wrote to his dog: “You are the love of my life and they took you from me! Remember when I told you that I would never leave you? Forgive me for not being able to be with you at that time. Know that you will live inside me forever, I will still buy the Your apples and arugula because I know how much you have become my angel and know that I will remember you every day and fight for you.”
Public anger is rising
Juca’s story ignited the public in Brazil and social networks were flooded with tributes to the golden retriever, alongside sharp criticism of the Gol company. Many are demanding an explanation for the airline’s flaws in pet handling procedures and are calling for those responsible to be held accountable.
Animal rights organizations also joined the chorus of condemnation. The Brazilian Association for the Protection of Animals (SBPA) issued a statement calling for an in-depth investigation into the circumstances of the incident and calling for stricter regulations for the transportation of pets by airlines.
In the face of growing public pressure, the Gol company issued an official apology to Fantasini and the public. The company has pledged to thoroughly investigate the incident and take appropriate action to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again. However, many remain skeptical of the airline’s promises and calls for a boycott of the airline are growing, and some legal experts believe Fantasini has grounds to sue the compan.
Brazilian President Lula da Silva also commented on the sad event: “The dog died because it spent eight hours without drinking water, trapped in a cage. I think that Gol should be held accountable. I think that ANAC (the National Agency for Civil Aviation) must monitor this, And I don’t think we can allow this to continue in Brazil. I grew up with dogs and I know how close people are to their beloved pets when I was 18. I was heartbroken and depressed for a long time. 30 years and I still think about him.”
Now Fantasini is working to promote a law in Brazil that will regulate the transport of pets on flights. In the meantime, he met with the Minister of Ports and Airports of Brazil, and together with a battery of lawyers they work to pass the law that calls it the “Jucca Law”: “With a lot of work, struggle and dedication, no parent of a pet or a multi-species family will feel the pain that João Fantazini feels. We will fight tirelessly for them and we have the commitment of the National Congress, the Ministry of Ports and Airports and the federal government.”