Woman abandons dog in airport car park when staff refused to let pet on board flight
A woman who pleaded with office staff to let her bring what she claimed was her emotional support dog on a flight abandoned her pet at the airport when told no.
Police in Pittsburgh said the French Bulldog was ‘found unattended in a stroller’ at the Pittsburgh International Airport on Friday morning at 5.30 a.m.
The woman was on her way to a resort when she was told she wouldn't be able to bring her pet on board, with her being told that she would need a crate for her dog in order to fly with it.
However, the passenger decided to leave the pooch behind ‘near short-term parking and proceeded to board a flight’.
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Allegheny County Police Department tweeted about the incident along with a picture of the unfortunate fur baby after it had been found.
The tweet read: “Don’t leave your pets behind! This morning at approximately 5:30 a.m., ACPD officers working at Pittsburgh International Airport were called to assist with a dog that was found unattended in a stroller on airport property.”
The department said a microchip was found on the dog however, the owner could not be contacted.
Police said the woman was flying to a resort and she pretended her dog was an emotional support animal, Sgt. Jason Donaldson told ABC affiliate WTAE-TV.
However, airline officials were not convinced, Donaldson said.
The seven-year-old dog is in good health and is now being cared for by a local animal shelter, Sgt. Donaldson confirmed.
The police did not say where the woman flew to after dumping her dog, or what flight she was booked on.
Charges are expected to be filed against the dog’s owner by the state dog warden, as it is illegal under Pennsylvania law to abandon a dog.
If convicted, the owner could face a fine of up to $1,000 (£787).
A follow-up tweet from the police department said: "Officers were able to locate a microchip on the animal but attempts to reach the owner were unsuccessful.
"Investigators learned the dog’s owner was told by airline officials the dog needed to be placed in a crate in order to fly."
While another tweet read: "The investigation revealed the owner then abandoned the dog near short-term parking and proceeded to board a flight.
"Police contacted the state dog warden to safely turn over the dog. A charge of animal abandonment is expected to be filed against the owner by the dog warden."
Tyla has contacted Pittsburgh International Airport for comment.