United Airlines ranks nowhere near the top of any of “The Best Airlines in America” lists (just ask Mayim Bialik), unless you’re a sweet puppy whose first owner decided to inexplicably yeet you from their luggage at San Francisco International Airport. Polaris, a 6-month-old German Shepard, was left at the airport this summer after his human decided to continue their travels without him. Luckily, United Airlines assisted the SPCA in Polaris’ care from abandonment up until he was finally adopted by one of United’s pilots, just in time to have a home for the holidays.
People says that Polaris was left at SFO in August after his international owner bounced. Thankfully, United must’ve improved upon their past protocol for handling dogs, because they secured permission to keep him in the US and cared for him until the local branch of the ASPCA was able to take over.
According to the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), an international traveler “chose to continue traveling without his animal” upon arrival at the city’s airport in August.
And even though Polaris had a sad origin story, this very guhboi found a very happy ending when a United Airlines pilot, Captain William Dale, and his family adopted him after his required quarantine period. United celebrated along with Polaris and the Dales by throwing them a party and presenting the SPCA with a donation.
A pilot working for United Airlines, William Dale, was chosen out of a number of applicants to take the 6-month-old German Shepherd in, as the airline “worked to ensure the puppy completed necessary requirements to enter the United States, including a quarantine period,” the nonprofit noted in a news release.
“From the moment Polaris landed in our care, our entire SFO United team cared for him 24/7 until we were able to get permission to keep him safely in the U.S.,” Vincent Passafiume, Director of Customer Service at United, told the organization, confirmed to PEOPLE by the airline. “It’s a great feeling to see this story come full circle and that Polaris will have a loving home with United Airlines Captain Dale and his family — just in time for the holidays.”
In addition to hosting a festive party at the airport on Dec. 15 in Polaris’s honor when the adoption cleared, United followed up with a $5,000 donation to the SF SPCA.
Let’s totally disregard the fact that United probably required the pup to be named after their shitty business-class service. Here’s beautiful Polaris and his luscious tail politely tolerating a Santa outfit (for absolutely no longer than it took to take this picture, I’m sure) while celebrating with his new family.
Pic: Twitter