"Your Dog Can't Board": Owner Abandons Pet and Departs Alone After Refusal at Airport

Brachycephalic Breeds Face Fatal Risks During Air Travel
Dog Drowned in Restroom After Boarding Denied

An unbelievable incident occurred at a Belgian airport when a pet owner abandoned their dog after being denied boarding with the animal. On September 18, Yonhap News, citing local outlets such as the Brussels Times, reported that an American Bully named "Paco" was delivered to the doorstep of the Brussels animal shelter "SRPA Beware" last week.

American Bully Abandoned at Airport. SRPA Beware SNS

The Brussels shelter explained, "After being told at the airport that Paco could not board the flight due to being a brachycephalic breed (a breed with a short skull and nose) and therefore considered dangerous for air travel, the owner chose to leave alone instead of finding a responsible solution, called a taxi, and sent only the dog to us." The shelter criticized this behavior, stating, "Abandoning an animal in this way is unacceptable and could be reported as abandonment under the law."

After Paco's story was shared on the shelter's official social media channels, online users expressed outrage at the owner's irresponsible actions. The shelter later managed to contact a relative of the owner living in Belgium, and, determining that Paco could be cared for in a stable environment, arranged for him to be adopted by them. The owner has still not returned to Belgium. According to current Belgian law, to legally relinquish ownership of a pet, one must bring identification and transfer the animal directly to a shelter. Additionally, most airlines prohibit the transport of brachycephalic dogs and cats, such as American Bullies, as checked baggage from the booking stage due to the risk of fatal respiratory issues.

Previously, last year, a shocking incident occurred at Orlando International Airport in Florida, United States, when a woman drowned her pet dog in a restroom and disposed of it in a trash can after being denied boarding. Orlando police reported that in December of last year, Allison Lawrence was arrested for allegedly drowning her nine-year-old Schnauzer in a restroom at Orlando International Airport and abandoning the body in a trash can. Lawrence was charged with aggravated animal cruelty and faces up to five years in prison and a fine of 10,000 dollars (approximately 14.6 million won).