Tourist Arrested for Abandoning Dog at Las Vegas Airport

A 26-year-old woman was arrested at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) after allegedly abandoning her dog at a check-in counter. The incident occurred after JetBlue Airways Corporation (JetBlue) staff denied the animal boarding due to incomplete service animal documentation, highlighting the strict enforcement of federal travel regulations.

The event underscores a growing trend of airlines tightening requirements for traveling with service animals, a move supported by regulations from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). For passengers, it serves as a critical reminder that failure to comply with pre-travel documentation rules can result in denied boarding. For airlines and airport authorities, such incidents create operational disruptions and require coordination between law enforcement and local community organizations.

The Incident at LAS

According to a statement from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), the passenger attempted to check in for a JetBlue flight with her two-year-old goldendoodle. Airline staff informed her that she had not completed the required online documentation for traveling with a service animal. Following the dispute, the woman allegedly tied the dog to a metal carry-on baggage sizer at the ticket counter and proceeded toward the security checkpoint without the animal.

Airport employees notified the LVMPD, who located and detained the woman near her departure gate. The LVMPD reported that when questioned, the woman claimed the airline would not allow her to fly with the dog and that the animal had a tracking device, implying it was acceptable to leave it behind. She reportedly became hostile and resisted officers while being escorted back through the security checkpoint, leading to charges of both animal abandonment and resisting arrest.

Service Animal Documentation Rules

This incident is a direct consequence of regulations governed by the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). Under rules set by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), airlines are permitted to require passengers traveling with service animals to provide a completed DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form. This form attests to the animal’s health, training, and behavior. Airlines like JetBlue often require this form to be submitted online well in advance of the flight.

The DOT strengthened these rules to address concerns about passengers misrepresenting pets as service animals. Airlines are no longer required to recognize emotional support animals as service animals; they are now treated as pets and subject to standard pet travel fees and restrictions. Failure to provide the correct, completed documentation is a valid reason for an airline to deny transport of a service animal.

Airport and Community Response

The abandoned dog was taken into custody by Animal Protective Services. After a mandatory 10-day hold period passed without the owner returning, the animal was transferred to the Retriever Rescue of Las Vegas, a local charity. The dog, now named "Jet Blue," is reportedly safe in foster care and will be placed in a new home.

The LVMPD highlighted the strong collaboration between airport staff, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Animal Control, and the local rescue organization. In their official statement, the department stated, "This incident highlights LVMPD’s zero-tolerance stance on animal abuse and neglect... abandoning an animal is a serious criminal offence."

Harry Reid International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the United States, handling nearly 55 million passengers in 2025, according to airport data. The high passenger volume necessitates strict adherence to security and operational protocols, including those involving animals.

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