Gorgeous French bulldog died 'after Alaska Airlines downgraded him from first class to coach'

A California antheral has sued Alaskan Airlines aft helium claimed 1 of his 2 dogs died connected a cross-country formation aft they were forced to determination from archetypal people to coach. 

Michael 'Mike' Contillo, of San Francisco, was flying from New York to San Francisco with his begetter and his 2 French bulldogs, Ash and Kora, erstwhile cream-colored Ash tragically died during the formation connected February 1. 

'I was sobbing implicit my dormant dog,' Contillo told DailyMail.com connected Tuesday. 

Shortly earlier takeoff, Contillo and his begetter were asked to determination from enactment 4 to enactment 11 for 'safety purposes,' contempt the canine dada explaining that moving the pooches this adjacent to takeoff would beryllium 'extremely dangerous,' the lawsuit, viewed by DailyMail.com, said. 

Contillo disquieted that moving his dogs could pb to 'extremely unsafe breathing and bosom problems,' which could beryllium 'lethal for a dog, particularly close earlier you alteration altitudes.' 

They had boarded with different first-class passengers and person been calmly sitting successful their spot for astir 25 minutes earlier the formation attendant and different Alaska Airlines unit subordinate approached them and told them to move. 

'Who's information were they trying to protect?' helium questioned to DailyMail.com. 'It didn't look to payment the quality oregon the dogs.' 

Cantillo was besides not refunded the antithetic betwixt his purchased first-class summons and the manager 1 helium was forced to beryllium in. 

After moving, the Californian noticed his 'precious' Ash, who was three, had begun to respire 'very rapidly and heavily' and had 'noticeable anxiety,' earlier yet calming down and 'stopped moving.' 

He could not cheque connected the well-being of his favored until aft takeoff and helium was told to support the bearer closed.

The Harvard graduate, who has an MBA and a JD, did not cheque the bearer aft takeoff arsenic the canine had settled and helium believed Ash had fallen asleep. 

But upon arriving astatine the San Francisco International Airport and de-boarding the plane, helium realized his canine was dormant and was 'entirely successful rigor mortis.' Rigor mortis sets successful for dogs astir 4 hours post-death and the formation was 5 hours long. 

Contillo began to outcry successful grief arsenic helium and his dormant kneeled earlier the carrier, helium accused 1 of the unit members of loudly saying: 'Now you're going to blasted america for sidesplitting your dog.' 

'They simply ignored us,' helium said of the remainder of the crew. 

The lone enactment with Alaska Airlines that helium had aft discovering his canine had died was erstwhile an worker chased them down the terminal, screaming: "Cantillo, sir!" earlier asking for a statement. 

Cantillo and his begetter said they'd gladly archer the worker arsenic they walked to baggage claim, but they refused to follow. He has not heard from the hose since.  

The canine dada believes his pooch would person made the formation safely if they hadn't been forced to determination to a much crowded country of the plane, which is wherefore helium bought first-class tickets successful the archetypal place.  

He besides paid two-$100 fees to person his dogs successful the cabin, alternatively than beryllium checked successful the holding area. 

In addition, this was not Kora oregon Ash's archetypal flight, arsenic the father-son duo had flown them to New York successful the first-class compartment successful November. 

Prior to the wintertime flight, a veterinarian confirmed some dogs were steadfast and acceptable capable to fly. Both were progressive connected the formation to New York and did not amusement signs of distress, helium claimed. 

Contillo blames Alaska Airlines for 'negligently, carelessly, [and] recklessly' forcing him to determination his dogs successful February aft helium took assorted 'steps of precaution' to marque definite his pets were not beryllium enactment successful harm's way. 

The canine dad, who works arsenic a caput of merchandise astatine LegalOn, said the dog's decease has caused him 'severe intelligence and affectional distress, pain, and suffering.' 

He besides claimed successful the suit that Ash had 'peculiar worth due to the fact that helium was similar a lad to his owner, who did not person children of his own.' 

He remembers his canine arsenic having 'loved life' and who 'woke up each time excited to beryllium alive.' 

'A doorway opening was a celebration. A carrot dropping connected the level was the champion happening that could happen. Every clip I took him connected a stroll…it was similar going connected a stroll for the archetypal time,' helium told The Mercury News. 

DailyMail.com has reached retired to Contillo and Alaska Airlines for comment.