"It was just instant tears," Swindle told CNN's Chris Cuomo on Friday with Irgo safely at her side. "I didn't even know what to think. I was just so worried about where my dog was instead."

The mix-up sent the Swindles into a panic. It was Irgo's first time flying; on top of that, he had come down with an ear infection before the flight, Swindle said.

She said the airline was unable to confirm Irgo was on the flight to Japan until it touched down nearly eight hours after she went to pick up her pet.

The airline apologized and said it would arrange the return of the pets to their owners as soon as possible.

United, Swindle said, was prepared to send Irgo back to the States in cargo, but she and her husband put their foots down.

"We told them, 'Absolutely not. You need to be doing this our way now. He is to be flying in the cabin, and honestly we don't care how it happens. You just need to get it done,' " Swindle said.

On Thursday, Irgo was flown from Narita, Japan, to Wichita on a United corporate jet.

The flight was more than 11 hours long, but Swindle told KNSW she was glad to see Irgo "being treated like the king he is."

"Ready to go home now?" Swindle asked Irgo as she helped him get to their SUV at the airport.

The Great Dane that was mistakenly sent to Kansas was on his way back to Japan on Thursday, the airline said.

"I will definitely never fly United again," Swindle said Friday.