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A shocking new report shows that more pets died flying on Delta Airlines than on any other airline in 2011.

Delta spokesman Anthony Black told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that it carries more pets than any other airline and has a broad route network. Other airlines, such as AirTran and JetBlue allow pets to accompany their owners into the fuselage, and not in the cargo hold.

Mr Black noted that the 19 deaths accounted for only 0.2 per cent of animals transported do not survive, mostly because of pets' pre-existing health issues.

While the cargo holds are climate-controlled, delays and other unforeseen circumstances can cause stress on a pet

Last February, a hairless kitten froze to death after being shipped in the cargo hold of a flight. Owner Heather Lombardi paid $300 to fly the 11-week-old Snickers from a breeder in Utah to her home in Connecticut in climate-controlled air cargo.

But by the time the kitten was returned to its owner, Snickers was ice cold and could not move her head or paws. She died a short time later.

Black told the Journal-Constitution: 'The loss of any pet is unacceptable to us,' adding that the company is 'working to improve the process and procedures to ensure that every pet arrives safely at its destination.'

The paper notes that Delta instigated a major change last December, when it refused to accept snub-nosed cats and dogs as checked baggage.

Those animals are subject to respiratory problems. Because of the risks of travelling in the cargo hold, the Humane Society said that Persian cats, Pekingese, and Bulldogs should never fly for fear of over-heating and oxygen deprivation.

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