A woman was taken into custody at Harry Reid International Airport in Nevada after authorities discovered that she had left her 2-year-old goldendoodle behind due to not completing service dog documentation. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department emphasized the importance of not abandoning pets in a press release following the incident. The woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, was seen on video speaking with airport personnel before leaving her dog tied up at the JetBlue ticket counter.
Subsequently, the woman was denied a boarding pass for failing to complete the necessary online paperwork for her pet to travel as a service dog. Despite this setback, she tried to proceed to the departure gate, only to be intercepted by officers who informed her of the consequences of leaving her dog unattended. The woman claimed that the dog had a tracking device and would find its way back to her, justifying her actions.
The situation escalated as the woman resisted arrest and displayed hostility towards the officers. She was ultimately taken into custody on charges of animal abandonment and resisting arrest. The 2-year-old dog was placed in the care of Animal Protective Services and later transferred to Retriever Rescue of Las Vegas, where he was renamed JetBlue.
The animal rescue organization expressed admiration for JetBlue’s resilience and loving nature despite the abandonment he faced. JetBlue received an abundance of adoption applications and support from the community. The incident shed light on the importance of responsible pet ownership and adherence to abandonment laws. The rescue vowed to ensure accountability for the woman’s actions while emphasizing the ongoing need to meet JetBlue’s needs for the remainder of his life.
