Police investigate death of dog Joca after error in air transport, and Gol suspends service for a month

The São Paulo Civil Police opened an investigation to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the dog Joca, who should have been transported from Guarulhos (SP) to Sinop (MT) this Monday, but ended up being sent to Fortaleza (CE) due to an error. from Gollog, a company owned by Gol. The journey, which should have taken up to two and a half hours, took almost eight hours. After the repercussion of the case, the airline suspended transportation in the aircraft’s holds for a month.

According to the Public Security Secretariat (SSP), the case will be investigated by the Environmental Police Station in Guarulhos. Joca’s guardian’s mother gave a statement this Tuesday afternoon. The animal’s body was sent to a veterinary hospital, where it underwent necropsy examinations. The reports, once finalized, will be analyzed by investigators.

Joca was a healthy five-year-old golden retriever. In an interview with TV Globo, the animal’s owner, João Fantazzini, said that he had a certificate from a veterinarian indicating that the dog would survive a two and a half hour journey, as expected. João was moving to Mato Grosso and embarked for Sinop with the intention of arriving in the city at the same time as the dog. Upon disembarking, however, he was alerted that the animal had been sent to Fortaleza due to an error.

João was offered a flight back to São Paulo, where Joca would return. The golden retriever, according to the family’s report, spent around an hour and a half waiting in the sun on the runway at Fortaleza airport, unable to leave the crate in which he traveled and without eating or drinking.

Back at Guarulhos Airport, João said he was alerted by a Gol employee that Joca “didn’t feel well on the flight” and that a veterinarian had been called.

— He came out okay, he came back to me dead. Total neglect inside, because no one said anything (to me). They came with snacks for me, why would I want to eat? Do they think I need someone to give me a snack to eat? What I hope is that they pay — the tutor told TV Globo.

João found Joca lifeless, still inside the kennel where he should have been transported to Sinop. The owner said that the animal had been his “best choice”.

Gol, in a statement, stated that it was “surprised” by Joca’s death, and that it gave “total priority” to investigating the error that resulted in his mistaken sending to Fortaleza. The company also said that it is providing “all necessary support” to the animal’s owner.

Service suspended

Gol Linhas Aéreas suspended the transport of dogs in the hold of aircraft for a month. In a statement, the company informed that “in order to fully dedicate itself to the investigation process of this event”, the sale of the dog and cat transport service by Gollog Animais will be suspended from this Wednesday (24), until May 23 and the product Dog&Cat + Space for the basement. Gol stated that those who contracted the service for this period will have their money refunded, or the service may be postponed until the end of the year.

Only the Dog&Cat Cabin service was maintained, for customers who take their pets in the plane cabin. The company only allows dogs and cats weighing up to 10 kilos to travel in the cabin, together with their owners.