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High travel costs put animals in jeopardy

SAFE founder Sue Hedley. Picture: SAFE

Not-for-profit group Saving Animals From Euthanasia fears the surge in the cost of airline travel for animals between Karratha and Broome, could have a severe impact on their ability to transport and rehome animals in the North West.

The ability to fly animals around WA has been an integral part of SAFE's life-saving work since its inception in 2003.

Founder Sue Hedley said despite coming to an interim arrangement with Qantas last month for other flight routes, the cost between Karratha to Broome remained high for medium to large dogs.

"It's a one-hour flight and has always been straight-forward and manageable cost-wise in the past …now it is $500 for the one-hour flight for a medium-sized dog," she said.

"SAFE Karratha has been regularly taking some of Broome's overpopulation of dogs and has been working diligently to support de-sexing programs in Broome where the overpopulation of animals is extreme. We implore Qantas to make the price manageable so we can continue to help save Broome dogs."

The twice-weekly, one-hour flight between Karratha to Broome is operated by third party airline, Air North.

A Qantas spokeswoman said the minimum costs associated with third party line haul service providers limited the airlines' ability to pass reduced discounts.

"We have worked with SAFE and the Pilbara Wildlife Carers Association to set preferable pricing on the routes they historically utilise, which includes the Broome/Karratha sector," she said.