Recent news stories have taught us that while air travel can be unfriendly for humans, it’s deadly for animals.

The doctor who was dragged off a flight recently was battered and bruised, but Simon, a 10-month-old continental giant rabbit, died alone in a cargo hold. Reportedly, he was in good health when the plane left the U.K. When it landed in Chicago, Simon, who had been sold as a commodity, was dead.

His death wasn’t the first—more than 300 animals have died in cargo holds since 2005.

Cargo holds aren’t designed to carry living, feeling beings. They’re meant for luggage. Because most aren’t ventilated and have no heating or air-conditioning, temperatures can climb and drop quickly and dramatically.

© Anthony Aneese Totah Jr | Dreamstime.com

Five years ago, a dog named Bam Bam died during a cross-country flight—his guardian said that the 2-year-old mastiff had been left on the sweltering tarmac during a four-hour layover in Houston. Jed, a dog on a different flight, wasn’t breathing and was covered with urine, feces, and vomit when he was brought out of a cargo bay. Reportedly, he had suffocated from a lack of oxygen. Countless other animals have suffered and died, terrified and alone, in cargo holds.

Dogs and cats can escape from damaged carriers and get lost inside airplanes or hangars. Others are injured from being tossed around like luggage.

If our companions must fly, taking them in the cabin is the least dangerous and stressful option. Choose a sturdy carrier that is large enough for the animal to stand up in comfortably but that fits under the seat. Several days before the trip, put blankets, toys, and treats inside the carrier to help your animal get comfortable with it. And make sure that the animal is wearing a collar and ID tag. You can find more tips here.

For most animals, though, the least stressful option is to be driven by car or left in the comfort of their own home with a trusted caretaker.

Written by Craig Shapiro