There was some good news that day, and the internet let out a collective sigh of relief after two JetBlue flight attendants rescued a French bulldog (named Darcy!) who was having trouble breathing on a plane. The three-year-old pup was flying from Orlando, Florida, to Massachusetts with her owner, Michelle Burt, when Burt noticed her dog showing signs of distress, Travel & Leisure reported. When Darcy started panting, Burt took her out of the cage and put her on his lap to calm her down, but when the puppy's gums and tongue began to turn blue, Burt could see that Darcy wasn't getting enough oxygen.
"As a French bulldog owner, I knew the dog was overheating and needed some ice," one of the flight attendants, Renaud Fenster, told "Good Morning America ," Travel & Leisure reported. When ice packs and fresh water failed to ease Darcy's pain, Finster called the captain and told him he wanted to use some oxygen to help the struggling pup, and the captain agreed. Finster and fellow flight attendant Diane Ascher then helped Darcy with an oxygen tank and a small breathing mask and quickly revived the struggling puppy - "After a few minutes of Darcy breathing through the mask, she became Alert and return to normal, ” further reported with Leisure . Burt told ABC, "I put the mask on her face, [...] she became alert and soon after she didn't want the mask anymore. I believe Reno and Diane saved a life. Somewhat. People may devalue life because Darcy is a dog, but I don’t.”
Today noted that the two flight attendants helped intervene in what may have been the tragic death of Darcey. Thankfully, Darcy was safe and made a full recovery following the flight. Burt said that when flying, "we are all affected by fluctuations in cabin pressure and oxygen, including humans, canines and felines alike, but the crew's response and attention to the situation may have saved Darcy's life."
In a touching post on Facebook, Burt also wrote, "To some it might just be a 'dog' and certainly not a major disaster, but to us it was "Being a family member." Burt continued, "Despite being a dog in crisis, kindness and kindness and the ability to assess a medical crisis saved the day." Burt told ABC, "Good people are there every day. Do good, whether it’s small or big” is a timely and much needed reminder for all of us.
JetBlue issued a statement to ABC News in response to Burt's Facebook post, saying, "We all want to ensure that everyone has a safe and comfortable flight, including our four-legged passengers - and we appreciate the quick thinking of our crew members, And glad everyone involved breathed easier when the plane landed in Worcester, Massachusetts."
Travel & Leisure notes that many short-nosed dog breeds, such as French bulldogs, are prone to respiratory illnesses and families should be careful when flying with them. Some airlines don't even allow these breeds on board because of the respiratory problems they may develop when traveling by air. Many airlines have recently updated their rules on which animals can fly in their cabins, following several high-profile incidents in which animals were unable to be safely transported.
Fortunately for Darcey and her family, thanks to the tireless efforts of two JetBlue flight attendants, the puppy did well and grew up healthy after the flight. In a time filled with not-so-great news, we should all be grateful for that.
