Winnipeg man wants answers from Air Canada after cat lost in Toronto airport

A Winnipeg man is angry and blames Air Canada after his cat was lost at Pearson International Airport in Toronto during a trip home.

Riley McCannwas moving back to Winnipeg with his two cats after living in Montreal for five years. He took a flight on Jan. 16, and travelled with his cat Vida in the cabin and paid $105forhis other cat, Dewy, to travelin the cargo area.

Dewy went missing during a layover in Toronto, he said.

"It's been so difficult. I've been getting no more than four hours of sleepa night this past week," McCann said.

"It's now seven days later and there is no sign ofDewy anywhere inside of Pearson Airport.Nobody knows where he is."

He was told by Air Canada in Toronto that his three-year-old tabby somehow escaped from a crate in the cargo areawhile being transferred onto a connecting flight to Winnipeg.

"The employee [who]had been put in charge to walkhis crate off the planehad set down the carrier,turned around for a moment, and when he looked back my cat was gone," he said.

He was told he was not allowed to look for his cat in the airport warehouse at the time due to security issues, he said.

WATCH | CBC's Janet Stewart speaks with Riley McCann about histhree-year-old tabby going missing:

Winnipeg man seeks answers after cat lost by Air Canada in Toronto airport

4 years ago

Duration 4:14

Riley McCann says Air Canada told him that his cat, Dewy, went missing from a crate during a stopover at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Jan. 16.

Air Canada officials are still searching for the cat and have put outout some traps,but so far there is still no sign of Dewy, he said.

"I don't know where my cat is and all I really want is for himto come home, and I worry that's not going to happen."

It took more than two days for someone from the airline to contact him after he arrivedin Winnipeg, he said.

"It's been very tough coming home in light of a pandemic and everything going on," he said.

"I came home to start a new job,I'm trying to sort some personal stuff with my family, and Ihave this weighing on me every single day."

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Air Canada has now offered to fly McCann back to Toronto to help look for Dewy, buthe's not sure hecanbecause of COVID-19 restrictions, he said.

"I'm currently on day seven of a 14-day isolation from having totravel," he said.

"I was shocked. We're in a global pandemic and suddenly it's okay for me to hop back on a flight to Toronto?" he said.

"It seems like a blatant disregard for the health of myself and their employees."

He's also surprised given that he wasn't allowed to go into the baggage area in Toronto at the time his cat went missing.

"I begged and begged them to let mego in that room, to call out for him and try to find him myself,but was told [at that time] itwas impossible, and now I find out it was very much possible."

McCann is considering taking legal action to ensure this kind of incident doesn't happen again.

CBC requested comment from Air Canada. In a statement, the airline said it has been in contactwith the customer and has continuedto search for Dewy, including retaining outside specialists to assist.