Air Pressure guarantees change after Marine household’s canine died throughout PCS transfer

The Air Pressure is investigating the dying of “Kolbie,” a Marine Corps household’s canine that was discovered useless after transit on an Air Mobility Command airplane from Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in southern Japan on July 1.

Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Panko and his spouse Amber are devastated by the lack of their 10-year-old Pomeranian combine, in accordance with a Fb submit on her web page.

A necropsy discovered that the canine died of warmth stroke. Air Mobility Command, which is answerable for the AMC Patriot Categorical on which Kolbie was flown, posted an announcement to Fb on July 6 saying it was trying into the incident.

“AMC’s Aerial Port specialists take significantly the duty to keep up and implement established pet transport protocols whereas they’re entrusted to our care,” AMC’s submit says. “We’re working diligently to contact the household to reconstruct what transpired, establish potential areas of concern and devise actions we will take now to mitigate a future incident.”

Initially, AMC shared the submit earlier than reaching out to the Pankos. Nevertheless, AMC commander Gen. Mike Minihan contacted the Pankos over the weekend to supply his condolences and speak about how the Air Pressure would guarantee reside cargo is safely moved sooner or later.

Lt. Col. Brandon Greenawalt, commander of the 730th Air Mobility Squadron, additionally reached out to the household to increase an apology.

“[Minihan] defined to us that Kolbie has his full consideration, and his scenario, [and] the scenario of reside cargo transportation is his primary precedence,” Amber Panko informed Army Instances. “[He] gave us his phrase that change will occur, and I don’t take that frivolously. Our request is for air-conditioned rooms to be constructed or designated at each single army set up that transports reside cargo for households touring with pets, in addition to pet aid stations.”

The final didn’t inform Amber Panko what particular modifications will or have been made, however she famous that he promised to maintain her household within the loop. She says she won’t relaxation till Kolbie’s story creates definitive change, corresponding to re-boarding pets on delayed flights as an alternative of holding them in cargo, temperature controls in cargo house, and the pet aid stations.

“I’ve stated and can proceed to say that till I see change I’ll proceed combating the nice struggle and sharing Kolbie’s story,” she famous. “He deserved so significantly better than this, as did each animal that has died by the hands of negligence from AMC.”

Emotionally, the household continues to be reeling, notably Amber. Her oldest son, she added, continues to be considerably in denial.

“Per week later and I discover I’m nonetheless caught in between the fact that Kolbie is gone and nonetheless believing it isn’t true,” she added. “He was with me each second of every single day, he actually adopted me in all places. One second I’m in a panic searching for him, questioning the place he’s as a result of he isn’t down at my toes, and the following I’m tormented along with his dying once more.”

Panko stated that whereas this occasion has been heartbreaking for her and her household, she is hopeful that it’s going to lead the Air Pressure to vary its practices with reside cargo. Then, she stated, it should give which means to the tragedy with Kolbie.

“I hate that I needed to lose him, particularly like this, but when he could make a change and find yourself saving different animals, and simply total have them be taken care of the way in which they need to be … then he didn’t die for nothing, and I could possibly discover therapeutic,” she stated. “We’re not achieved along with his story and won’t be till an enormous change is made.”