A puppy who was abandoned by a passenger at San Francisco International Airport found a new ‘forever home’ earlier this month after a United Airlines Captain worked with the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to adopt the dog.
The puppy, who has been appropriately named Polaris after United’s flagship Business Class cabin, arrived in the United States from an international destination earlier this year, but its previous owner abandoned Polaris shortly after their arrival in the country.
United Airlines, however, came to the rescue and started looking after Polaris as if he was one of their own. The airline had to complete all the necessary paperwork to ensure Polaris was legally allowed to enter the United States and looked after the puppy as he went through a quarantine period.
During this time, Captain William Dale and his family decided they could give Polaris the home he deserved.
“United’s Customer Service team took on quite a challenge to ensure Polaris would be safe, healthy, and find a loving home,” explained the San Francisco SPCA’s chief of rescue and welfare Lisa Feder.
Feder said the SCPA was honored to have received the call for help from United to help facilitate the adoption. As a mark of gratitude, the airline has donated $5,000 to the charity.
“It’s a great feeling to see this story come full circle and that Polaris will have a loving home with United Airlines Captain Dale and his family—just in time for the holidays,” commented United’s director of customer service Vincent Passafiume.
The donation was formally handed over during a celebatory adoption party which was held at SFO on December 15.
The San Francisco SCPA works year-round, helping animals who are ill, injured, and homeless. The charity has been operating for nearly 155 years had is always on the hunt for more families who are looking to care for a pet. The charity has an online search tool that can be accessed here.
Another guerilla/surgical PR piece by United. It’s fake but it makes a nice Christmas story. I’m going to name my next dog Red Carpet…….you know after the Red Carpet Club.
This is not fake – why do you say that. The dog deserved a good home and the person who abandoned it should be punished. Kudos to the captain and to United.
Nothing breaks my heart more than reading how CRUEL humans are to their pets . Poor thing. I am so glad he has a loving home!!!