Passenger abandons dog at airport over lack of documentation
According to a Feb. 19 statement from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the incident occurred on Feb. 2 at about 11:39 p.m.
CCTV footage showed the woman carrying luggage and leading a Goldendoodle on a leash as she approached the JetBlue ticket counter at Harry Reid International Airport.
She had planned to bring the dog on the flight but was refused as she had failed to complete documentation to travel with the animal, People reported.
Footage later showed the woman tying the dog’s leash to a carry-on baggage sizer before heading alone toward the departure gate.
A group of police officers responded to reports of the abandoned pooch and summoned the owner, Allison Giddens.
When questioned about the decision, the woman blamed the airline for not allowing the dog onboard and claimed the animal had a tracking device that would enable it to be recovered later, Los Angeles Times reported.
Authorities added that she became hostile and resisted officers’ attempts to detain her as they escorted her back through the security checkpoint.
She was subsequently arrested on suspicion of animal abandonment and resisting arrest.
The dog was transferred to Retriever Rescue of Las Vegas for medical evaluation and rehoming.
Renamed “Jet Blue,” the animal quickly gained widespread attention online, prompting around 2,000 adoption applications.
On Feb. 21, police confirmed that the dog had been placed in a permanent home in Las Vegas.
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