A woman was arrested at a Las Vegas airport for allegedly tying her dog to a baggage sizer at the JetBlue Airways ticket counter and leaving it behind, according to police reports.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) received a call on February 2 about a dog left at the airport. Upon arrival at Harry Reid International Airport, they discovered the dog tied to the carry-on sizer.
The woman faces charges of animal abandonment and resisting arrest.
Video footage from the LVMPD shows her approaching the ticket counter with the dog, who was on a leash, and then departing without it.
Officers informed her that she would be cited for leaving her dog unattended. She explained that she was trying to rebook her flight. The officer’s response was pointed: “So you left here to rebook your flight?” She affirmed, “Yes, that’s what I was told at the counter.”
When pressed further, the officer asked, “Would you walk here without your dog?”
As per LVMPD’s details, the airline staff had informed her that she had not filled out the necessary online form to have her dog fly as a service animal, resulting in her denial of a boarding pass. The woman then left the airport for the departure gate, leaving the dog behind.
Surveillance footage captured the moment she tied her dog to the baggage sizer. She reportedly became hostile towards police as they tried to escort her back through security.
The LVMPD later issued a social media reminder: “I can’t believe I have to say this…but please do not abandon your dog at the airport or anywhere else.”
The abandoned dog, a 2-year-old Goldendoodle-mini-poodle mix nicknamed “Jet Blue,” was taken into custody by a local rescue group after a mandatory 10-day waiting period. The organization will place him in a new home.
According to a recent Facebook post by the rescue, Jet Blue has garnered significant interest for adoption. They emphasized the importance of finding him a stable and committed forever home, stating, “This sweet little boy is incredible, and after everything he’s been through, the thought of him experiencing abandonment again puts us on high alert.”
