Airport refused to let ‘emotional support’ French Bulldog fly because he wasn’t in a crate – then his owner did the unthinkable

A dog owner was ready to fly with her pet dog, but when the airport authorities failed to comply with her request, she turned the tables on her furry pal. The woman, who was unnamed by the police, claimed the pup was an emotional support animal and needed to go with her. The airport staff, however, were not convinced and informed her that they could not allow her because the pet, a French bulldog, was not contained in a crate. It was basic protocol prior to flying with pets. Moments later, the authorities encountered something unexpected.

The Allegheny County Police Department posted on X that a French bulldog was found “unattended in a stroller on airport property” at around 5:30 in the morning. Officers were called to Pittsburgh International Airport in Pennsylvania to attend to the dog, which was found to be microchipped, as reported by The Independent. They retrieved the owner’s details from the chip but were unable to contact her. Sgt. Jason Donaldson later revealed that the woman was flying to a resort and tried to bring her pup as a service animal. "We were able to determine that the dog’s owner had attempted to fly with the dog this morning and was denied boarding due to having an improper cargo container," Sgt. Donaldson said. When the airport staff did not budge, the owner left the 7-year-old pet near the short-term parking and “proceeded to board a flight.” 

The dog was found in good health and was transferred to a shelter called Animal Friends, the police officer told WTAE. “Don’t leave your pets behind!” the X post advised. People were irked by the dog owner’s act and condemned her in the comments. “What a horrible human being. Glad she’s being charged…It would be a huge character flaw to be this callous and cruel to a pet,” wrote @blondpharmacist, and @Lilbit07661 added, “This is the best thing that could have ever happened to that baby. Now it has a chance to find a real home and to be loved.” “This is so sad. Who would choose a resort vacation over this sweetheart?” noted @ChreeMiriah. 

In the state of Pennsylvania, cruelty to animals is illegal, and offenders may face hefty fines when found guilty, per Lawyers.com. If an animal is “intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly” abandoned, mistreated, or abused, it is considered animal cruelty. “Animal cruelty is a summary offense, punishable by up to a $750 fine and 90 days in jail,” the report stated. The penalty may increase depending on the state of the pet and the nature of the abuse. Specifically, abandonment of dogs or even an attempt will warrant a fine of $300 to $1,000. 

Dr. Gary Weitzman, president and CEO of San Diego Humane Society, said that “San Diego Humane Society, which takes in over 30,000 companion animals each year, observed a 20% increase in lost pets not retrieved by their owners” in 2023. There are several heartbreaking reasons behind abandonment, from high expenses of care to insufficient housing options, and limited access to vet care, per Shelter Animals Count.