Amalka, who disappeared on November 19 from the hold of a plane, reappeared this Thursday, November 28, about ten kilometers away, in the town of Dammartin-en-Goële. She was immediately returned to her mistress, the young Czech tourist.
After nine days on the run, the young 2-year-old dog, Amalka, who had escaped from the hold of a plane that had just landed in Roissy, was found this Thursday in a park in Dammartin-en-Goële ( Seine-et-Marne), confirmed Air France with Liberation. The animal was first spotted early in the morning in a city park by a local resident, who then immediately sent a message to its owner. “Once there, I approached her very slowly so as not to scare her. When a gust of wind lifted my hair, it was as if she recognized my scent. She rushed towards me and didn't stop licking my face. recalls with emotion the 29-year-old Czech tourist, Misa, contacted by Libé. Such an explosion of joy “that Amalka even started to pee”, smiled Misa. Since then, her emotional support dog – the young woman suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) – “no longer wants [la] quitter».
Despite a slight weight loss, a “state of dehydration” and a “extreme fatigue,” the dog is safe and sound. “Thanks to the various people who saw her in the last few days, we were able to calculate that she had traveled more than 70 kilometers in less than two days. His paws are scratched, he will need a lot of rest.adds the young woman, who has just come out of a consultation with the veterinarian. And to continue: “But at least tonight, after 7 days of searching, I will finally be able to sleep.”
Air France wants to “make amends”
Tomorrow, Amalka will get back on a plane to return to Dallas in the United States. This was Misa's initial plan on November 19, with the aim of finding her family and her boyfriend. And for this journey paid for by Air France – such as veterinary costs and hotel nights – the airline exceptionally authorized the dog to travel alongside her mistress in the cabin, “as is the case with guide dogs”. Usually, dogs such as Amalka, weighing more than 8 kilos, must travel in the hold. “The company is so sorry for what happened that they are trying to do everything to make it up to them,” advances Misa, who now wants “move things forward on the conditions of transport of animals by plane”. The young woman also explains that she is in contact with her lawyer for a possible complaint against the company.
Tuesday, November 19, Amalka, who had escaped from her cage during the plane trip, took advantage of the opening of the hold of the aircraft where animals weighing more than 8 kilos were housed, to get off before everyone else . Surprised, the personnel present on the Roissy track at that time had not managed to catch her.
Several days followed where the frightened dog roamed the 3,257 hectares of the largest airport in Europe, impossible to locate precisely. “She would disappear and reappear at the other end», According to the president of the association. Air France had notably “mobilized seconded staff and volunteers” to get their hands on the animal, in the company of members of Paris Aéroport and the air transport police to find the animal.
This chase across the immense airport platform lasted until Monday, when the dog was seen in neighboring towns. Its location remained difficult because “for several days she continued to move between different communes», Adds Manuela Vidal. Fortunately, the dog ended up landing in a fenced park in Dammartin-en-Goële, about ten kilometers from Roissy, from which she was unable to escape this time.
Update at 10:25 p.m., with the testimony of the owner of the dog found.
