Reports: Canadian flight diverted to save dog

CANADA -- Simba, a 7-year-old French bulldog from Tel Aviv, had quite the adventure his first time flying in a plane.

City News in Canada reports that an Air Canada pilot is now being credited with saving the dog's life when he diverted an international flight from Tel Aviv to Toronto when a heating system malfunctioned in the plane's cargo area.

The Canadian Press reports that Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick says the pilot recognized that the cargo hold, where Simba was riding, would soon drop in temperature as they flew over the Atlantic Ocean. The pilot realized that the dog might not survive.

Fitzpatrick said in an email that the pilot made the decision to divert the plane to Frankfurt. The pilot then transferred the dog to another plane.

The flight made it to Toronto only 75 minutes behind schedule. And Simba was then placed on another flight.

City News was there when the happy reunion between the dog and owner happened at Pearson Airport.

"It's my dog, it's like my child. It's everything to me," his happy owner said.