I’ve never had a pet. Nor have I considered ever getting one.

Maybe I don’t have love to give. Or I have commitment issues. Perhaps I intellectualise the tradeoff of invested resources. Whatever the reason is, it isn’t a popular opinion.

I had to the opportunity to re-evaluate my thinking a week ago. My connecting flight was delayed by four hours. Yes, Riga to Vilnius can depart as late (or as early) as 3:30am. And I did not mind observing or listening to what was happening to people around me.

On the plane, while completing the boarding from Amsterdam to Riga, a flight attendant approached the lady behind me and told her that her dog would not make it.

The woman could not believe what had happened and snapped. She went on about how unacceptable the situation was considering 3 hours have passed since her last flight. She would not take no for an answer. But apparently, the service that transfers luggages was outsourced. The luggage company wasn’t owned by the airline. Given the staff shortages in Europe, this wasn’t an unrealistic situation (though it doesn’t make it right).

At the back of my head, whatever the outcome was, it had zero impact on me. But the tension was escalating.

“ARE YOU SURE?” the pet owner asked. And the flight attendant reconfirmed. The pet owner was backed into a corner. She had to stay in Amsterdam or let the dog travel on his/her own without a definitive timing on when he/she will make it.

Despite the demands, there was no choice. She cried and could not catch her breath. The crew gave her water to calm her down.

Within a minute, someone called the flight attendant. The caller confirmed the dog will make it. For all the commotion that happened, apparently, the panic was unnecessary. If only it was rechecked one last time (or they let a minute pass before breaking the news)

Passengers united. One volunteered to look out the window as the cargo was loaded. They wanted to make sure the dog made the flight.

I have zero affection for my co-mammal. But I saw how much value the owner put on her pet. And while that didn’t resonate with me, the passion and the pain did. And it’s a great lesson on empathy and judgment.

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The trip to Vilnius happened on June 2023.