Senators introduce bill to ban airlines from putting pets in overhead bins

Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and John Kennedy (R-LA) introduced legislation on Thursday to ban airlines from putting animals in overhead baggage compartments.

The bill, called the Welfare of Our Furry Friends (WOOFF) Act was introduced after a 10-month-old French bulldog died Monday after a United Airlines flight attendant told its owner to put the dog in the overhead compartment on a flight from Houston to New York.

"Too many animals have died as a result of human neglect and carelessness," Cortez Masto said in a statement. "The Welfare of Our Furry Friends (WOOFF) Act is designed to protect the well-being of our beloved family members -- our pets -- when traveling."

"Pets are members of the family," Kennedy said in a statement. "Unfortunately for our pets, they are at the mercy of human being showing some common sense. United Airlines is promising to put special tags on pet carriers to help flight attendants in the future. I'd rather make it the law that animalres aren't to be treated like an old piece of luggage."

On Wednesday, Kennedy sent a letter to United demanding an explanation for the number of animals who have died in United Airline's care.