A woman was taken into custody at Las Vegas’s Harry Reid International Airport after allegedly abandoning her 2-year-old goldendoodle, named “Jet Blue,” at the JetBlue ticket counter due to a lack of proper travel paperwork. The incident occurred on February 2 and was captured on video, which showed the woman leaving the airport after tying the dog’s leash to the ticket counter.
According to reports, airport police were alerted shortly before midnight about a dog left unattended at the ticket counter. Upon arrival, officers discovered the woman had been informed that her pet did not qualify as a service animal and thus she could not board the flight. Despite being denied a boarding pass, she attempted to proceed to her departure gate, where she was later found by the authorities.
In the footage, an officer informs the woman that she will receive a citation for her actions. She claimed she was trying to rebook her flight and insisted she didn’t intend to leave her dog behind by suggesting that the animal had a tracking device, implying it could find its way back.
As the situation escalated, the woman reportedly became hostile and resisted attempts by police to detain her. The authorities issued a strong reminder in a Facebook post urging pet owners not to abandon their animals.
Jet Blue was kept safe by airport staff and officers until animal protective services intervened. After a hold period of 10 days, during which the owner did not reclaim the dog, Jet Blue was placed in the care of the nonprofit organization Retriever Rescue of Las Vegas.
The rescue group commended the dog, stating, “This sweet boy is incredible. Truly incredible.” They expressed a commitment to finding him a stable and loving forever home, emphasizing his need for security and the importance of preventing any future abandonment.
This incident serves as a reminder to pet owners of the responsibilities that come with traveling with animals, and the importance of ensuring all necessary paperwork is in order to prevent distressing situations for both the pets and their owners. Jet Blue’s story also highlights the resilience of animals and the dedicated efforts of rescue organizations to provide a safer and more caring environment for them.