American authorities arrested a woman who abandoned her two-year-old goldendoodle dog at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. The incident occurred after JetBlue airline staff refused to allow the animal on board due to a lack of required documentation for a service dog. Instead of canceling her trip or completing the formalities, the owner tied the dog to a baggage measuring device and proceeded to the departure gate.
Lack of Service Animal Documentation
The carrier JetBlue refused to take the dog on board due to a lack of certificates required for service dogs.
Drastic Abandonment
The woman tied her 2-year-old dog to a baggage measuring device in Terminal 3 and proceeded towards the plane.
Arrest of the Accused
Las Vegas police detained the woman at the gate and charged her with animal cruelty.
Animal in Care
The dog was taken in by local Animal Protective Services and is currently safe.
The incident took place on the night of February 2, 2026 at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. According to police reports and surveillance footage, the woman attempted to check in for a JetBlue flight with her dog. However, airline staff informed her that the animal could not travel in the cabin as a service dog because the owner had not provided the necessary online documentation. Instead of attempting to rebook her ticket or arrange care for the animal, the passenger made a drastic decision. Around 11:39 PM, witnesses alerted officers of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) about a dog tied to a metal frame used for checking carry-on baggage dimensions. By that time, the woman had already passed through security and was at Gate D1, ready to board the plane without her pet. Abandoning animals at airports has become a growing problem in the USA after the Department of Transportation tightened regulations in 2021 regarding so-called emotional support animals, which previously could fly for free and without carriers.During the police intervention, the passenger claimed she had only stepped away to change her flight reservation, but surveillance evidence contradicted her version of events. Officers charged her with animal abandonment, which is a prosecutable offense in the state of Nevada. The two-year-old dog, a cross between a poodle and a golden retriever, was placed in the care of Animal Protective Services. „The owner prioritized her own convenience and travel plans over the welfare of a living creature for which she was responsible.” — LVMPD Spokesperson The animal is currently in a shelter awaiting potential adoption, pending a court decision on whether to strip the accused woman of her ownership rights. Emphasizes cruelty towards animals and the need for harsher penalties for people treating pets as disposable baggage. | Focuses on problematic airline procedures and a lack of clear communication regarding the transport of service dogs.