"The Dog Has a Tracking Device, So It's Fine": The Fate of the Woman Who Left Her Pet at the Airport

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A woman who abandoned her 2-year-old dog at Harry Reid International Airport in the United States was arrested at the scene.

On February 20, Yonhap News TV, citing the New York Post, reported that controversy has flared up again over airline rules on pets in cabin after a woman attempting to abandon her dog at an airport was taken into custody. Earlier, on February 2, the woman was stopped at a JetBlue Airways counter when she tried to board a flight with her dog without having applied for the pet-accompanied boarding service.

Image of a woman who abandoned a 2-year-old dog. Las Vegas Police Department, U.S.

She then left the dog tied to the counter and headed alone to the departure gate. Police, responding to a report that "a dog is tied up," quickly stopped her. The woman claimed she had been "trying to change her flight," but when officers pressed her on "why she was heading to the departure gate if she was changing her reservation," she failed to give a clear answer. She resisted, insisting that "the dog has a tracking device, so it is fine to leave it behind," and was ultimately arrested on charges of animal abandonment and resisting arrest.

Police stated that even after her arrest, the woman made no attempt to reclaim the dog. The dog was handed over to an animal shelter and given a new name, "JetBlue."

In the United States, repeated cases of pets being abandoned or dying at airports have previously sparked public outrage. In 2018, at Orlando International Airport, a passenger who was denied boarding due to airline regulations drowned her dog in a restroom. The incident led to animal-cruelty charges and caused shock across the United States. In addition, there have been sporadic reports of people arriving at airports without understanding airline rules and then leaving their pets behind at the scene. Some animals are transferred to shelters, but others are reported to die from deteriorating health or stress.

Major U.S. airlines require advance reservations and additional fees for bringing pets into the cabin. Allowable weight limits, carrier dimensions, and requirements for health certificates differ by airline. Some carriers also limit the number of pets allowed in the cabin, making advance reservations mandatory. Failure to comply can result in denial of boarding.

In some U.S. states, animal abandonment is defined as a criminal offense and can be punished by fines or imprisonment. In particular, abandonment in public places such as airports can be subject to enhanced penalties. Animal protection groups are calling for more dedicated pet counseling desks in airports and the establishment of emergency protection systems. They also argue that airlines must strengthen advance guidance and that clear standards for penalties in cases of violations are needed.