Police have arrested a woman for seemingly abandoning her dog at a Las Vegas airport. The startling incident happened on February 2. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said officers responded to "reports of a dog that had been tied to a metal carry-on baggage sizer and left behind at the JetBlue ticket counter" at Harry Reid International Airport.
Reportedly, JetBlue workers said the woman needed to fill out proper paperwork for the dog to be a service animal. However, she never filled out the paperwork. Forced with the prospect of missing her flight, the woman chose to abandon the animal.
"She then left the dog behind and proceeded through the airport to the departure gate," police reported. Authorities later found the woman at Gate D1. They demanded to know why she left the animal. "She stated the airline would not allow her to fly with it and claimed the dog had a tracking device — implying it was acceptable to leave the animal behind and it would return to her."
Abandoning Dog at Airport
From there, the owner reportedly "resisted officers' attempts to detain her." Authorities then arrested her and booked her for animal abandonment. Retriever Rescue of Las Vegas spokesperson Danielle Roth commented on the case.
"From the moment airport staff realized what had happened, he was surrounded by kindness," Roth said. According to Roth, the center is considering what's next for the poor pooch. They're hoping to find the dog a "stable, loving home."
"Despite experiencing abandonment, JetBlue has shown nothing but love. He is affectionate, gentle, and incredibly social. He greets everyone with trust and warmth. Which is honestly remarkable given what he went through," Roth continued. He also wants people to know that "there are always resources and rescues willing to step in."
"Stories like his remind us how much community matters — and how quickly love can replace heartbreak," he also added.
