Death of Travolta's dogs at airport reawakens debate on pet safety

The tragic deaths of two dogs owned by John Travolta at Maine's Bangor International Airport recently points up the risks of flying with beloved four-legged friends.

Bangor city officials confirmed that two small dogs were hit and killed by a service vehicle while being walked on the airport tarmac after Travolta's family landed there on May 13. Travolta, 56, and his wife, actress Kelly Preston, 47, own a home in Islesboro, a tiny town off Maine's southeastern coast, according to the Bangor Daily News.

While the incident appears to be a freak accident, it's reignited a long-standing debate about whether pets belong at airports and on aircraft. The nation's most respected pet organizations, including the Humane Society of the United States, recommend that owners do not transport their pets by air unless absolutely necessary.