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JetBlue crew saves French bulldog struggling to breathe on flight

A grateful couple has thanked a pair of JetBlue flight attendants for saving their French bulldog's life by bringing an oxygen mask when it was struggling to breathe.
/ Source: TODAY

A couple whose French bulldog was struggling to breathe on a Jetblue flight last week has credited a pair of flight attendants with saving the dog's life.

Steven and Michelle Burt were traveling from Orlando to Worcester, Massachusetts, on July 5 with their 3-year-old French bulldog, Darcy, when they noticed the dog was in distress.

JetBlue crew saves French bulldog on flight
A pair of JetBlue flight attendants helped save a French bulldog that was struggling to breathe on a flight. Renaud Fenster

They took Darcy out of the pet carrier under the seat in front of them and saw that his gums and tongue were turning blue, a sign that he wasn't getting enough oxygen, according to a Facebook post.

A pair flight attendants, Renaud Fenster and Diane Asher, came to the dog's aid with a small oxygen mask, which Michelle detailed in a grateful letter to JetBlue that was posted on Facebook by a friend.

"We all are affected by cabin pressure and oxygen fluctuations, human, canine and feline, etc., but the fact that the Attendants were responsive and attentive to the situation may have saved Darcy’s life,'' Michelle wrote.

The flight attendants also brought ice bags and water for the dog. Spencer is also the owner of a French bulldog, according to Michelle, and he brought a small oxygen tank and mask to help Darcy's breathing.

"I placed the mask over her face, and within a few minutes she became alert and after a short time she didn’t want the mask,'' Michelle wrote. "I believe Renaud and Diane saved a life, some may reduce the value of the life because Darcy is a canine, I do not."

The actions of the flight attendants helped avoid a tragic situation like the French bulldog puppy that died on a United flight in March. A flight attendant forced the owners to place the pet carrier containing the dog into an overhead bin during the flight, and the owners found the dog dead after the flight landed.

Darcy has made a full recovery, and Michelle said the couple will now check with their veterinarian first before bringing the dog on any future flights.

"It may have been only a "dog" to some, not a major disaster certainly, but a family member to us,'' Michelle wrote. "Goodness and kindness along with the ability to assess a medical crisis, albeit a canine in crisis saved the day."

"We all want to make sure everyone has a safe and comfortable fight, including those with four legs,'' JetBlue said in a statement. "We're thankful for our crew's quick thinking and glad everyone involved was breathing easier when the plane landed in Worcester."

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