The Acre Court of Justice ordered GOL Linhas Aéreas to allow, under penalty of fine for non-compliance, a passenger to transport her two emotional support cats on board a flight to Minas Gerais. The decision is from the 2nd Special Civil Court of the District of Rio Branco, dated May 2nd.
According to the Acre website AC24Horas, Wilma Furtado Nogueira, a sanitary engineer, purchased three plane tickets from the company, intended for transporting herself and her two emotional support cats, each weighing 8 kilos. The flight was scheduled to leave Rio Branco this Monday (6), bound for Belo Horizonte (MG).
The purpose of the trip is to change Wilma’s place of residence, prompted by the death of her brother last February. Moved and shaken, the engineer decided to return to her hometown to take care of her mother, who has faced great suffering with the loss of her son.
Upon learning of the suspension of animal transport following the death of her dog Joca, Wilma contacted GOL in an attempt to resolve the impasse. However, she was informed that only one animal would be allowed in the cabin, resulting in the suspension of transport of one of the felines in the aircraft’s lower compartment.
Even presenting alternatives to transport her pet, including proposing to purchase a new ticket for him to travel in the cabin, Wilma was unsuccessful, leading her to go to court to resolve the impasse.
In the legal action, the lawyers highlighted the difficult phase that Wilma is going through and the sudden change of residence, in addition to the use of controlled medication, making the animals a vital emotional support for her.
Judge Matias Mamed, when delivering the decision, considered the need for Wilma to travel with both animals, as they are essential for her emotional well-being. The judge also noted that the animals were examined by a veterinarian, who certified that they were in good health for the trip, and that they were within the weight limit permitted for transport in the cabin.
Given this, the judge saw the danger of harm and the risk to the useful outcome of the process, declaring that the airline’s refusal to board the animals would certainly result in harm to Wilma’s health and threaten the usefulness of the process.
With the decision in favor of the applicant, GOL Linhas Aéreas was ordered to board, on the date of the reservation made, Wilma Furtado Nogueira with her pet and emotional assistance cats, both in the aircraft cabin, under penalty of payment of a fine. daily rate of R$ 1,500.00 limited to 10 days, without prejudice to new assessment and increase in the fine, in addition to other measures, until the final decision.
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