If the airlines are saying this, they are talking nonsense. If the hold was not capable of being heated, no animal could survive, whether he was 4lbs or 400lbs. The temperatures at altitude are so cold, without adequate heating nothing would survive. You should report any airline to the ASPCA which would accept animals and could not guarantee their comfort and safety. Even service dogs are banned in the cabin in many European countries and the animals survive and the passengers manage perfectly safely. An ealier post suggests that the DOT are looking at this and now keeping statistics, and I would encourage you to write to the DOT highlighing any airline which tells you that they cannot guarantee the welfare of an animal in their care.
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