In 2000, Congress agreed with the animal protection community that the public has a right to know how the airlines treat their animal passengers. In 2003, the Department of Transportation (DoT) finally issued regulations governing the reports that airlines have to file regarding animals who are lost, injured, or killed while in their care. Unfortunately, they only have to report a problem if it involves an animal who "is being kept as a pet in a family household in the United States." That is a very narrow definition and does not include animals being shipped commercially—such as dogs coming from puppy mills and primates being shipped to research laboratories.
URGENT ACTION NEEDED CLOSES AUGUST 27TH,12
http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=DOT-OST-2010-0211-0008