The imminent demise of Toys R Us feels like the turning of a page in American culture. Generations of kids grew up with the treat of a trip to the toy store — and when those youngsters became parents themselves, they’d line up around the block to score holiday door-buster bargains for their kids.

No more. Bankruptcy fueled by an outdated business model is forcing Toys R Us to close or sell off all its U.S. stores over the next several months, after some 70 years in business. It’s telling of our times that the decline of Toys R Us was contrasted in the toy industry by the strength of (big-box store chain) Walmart, (online retailer) Amazon and (electronic-game seller) GameStop. Play-Doh, or PlayStation? Hmm.

Irgo, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore

United Airlines has been dogged by problems — literally.

First, a puppy died after being placed in an overhead bin by a flight attendant on a flight from Houston to New York on Monday. The airline said the flight attendant didn’t know there was a dog in the pet carrier.

Then a German shepherd named Irgo, owned by a Wichita, Kan., resident, was mistakenly sent on a 16-hour flight to Japan on Tuesday without food, water or medicine. A Great Dane ended up in Kansas City, where Irgo should have been.

It’s a reminder that when traveling with animals, it’s important to be hyper-prepared and hyper-vigilant. Extra food and meds should be attached to a properly sized crate, and the animal should be healthy and acclimated to its container before taking a trip. And while it seems obvious, it bears repeating: no live animals in the overhead bin.