Japanese Airline Bans Bulldogs

Video illustrates challenges of animal victims, says blog

(NEWSER) - This one looks to be going viral on BuzzFeed : A video from Japan shows one dog sticking by the side of another dog who's apparently been injured in the tsunami. It's not just for an aw-shucks moment, adds the LifeWithDogs blog , which has the video posted on site. "Yesterday, we asked you to consider donating to relief efforts for animals impacted by Japan’s natural disasters. Today, we show you why." More»

Offers a $200 credit in return

(NEWSER) - Don't you hate it when the airline loses your luggage? Now imagine how angry you'd be if that luggage was your pet. That's Josiah Allen's situation. The 19-year-old recently adopted a stray dog in Mexico, then tried to fly home to Canada with him. But when he landed, he discovered that the dog, a Dachsund/Jack Terrier mix named Paco, hadn't made the trip, ABC News reports. Delta said the dog was safe in Mexico, and would be along soon. More»

Japanese toymaker debuts dog translator next month

(NEWSER) - Ever wonder what your dog is thinking? The “Bowlingual Voice” from Japanese toymaker Takara Tomy claims to be able to tell you just that, the Telegraph reports. The device is made up of a microphone and transmitter on the collar that categorizes the dog’s utterances into one of six emotions—such as sadness, anger or happiness—and plays an appropriate sample of speech from a handset. More»

(NEWSER) - Coffee, tea, or dog biscuits? That's what travelers hoped to hear on the inaugural flight yesterday of Pet Airways, a brand new airline catering to what execs refer to as "pawsengers." The first-ever all-pet airline, launched by US husband-and-wife team Alysa Binder and Dan Wiesel, transports up to 50 dogs and cats in the main cabin of a Suburban Air freight plane, filled with pet carriers instead of seats. More»

Japanese authorities believe threat to Air China is Olympics-related

(AP) - A bomb threat emailed to Air China's Tokyo offices today forced a Shanghai-bound passenger jet to make an emergency return to Japan, reports AP. Four other flights were delayed. The email threatened to "bomb the aircraft" if fllghts were not suspended, according to a transport offical. "We suspect this is a threat related to the Olympics," said the official, who declined to say if any particular group was suspected. More»