Allegheny County Police Department
A woman allegedly abandoned her dog at an airport parking lot in Pittsburgh and got on her flight alone after being told that she couldn’t bring the animal on the plane, authorities said.
In aFacebook postthat began with “Don’t leave your pets behind!” the Allegheny County Police Department said the agency was notified Friday morning about a dog left unattended in a stroller at Pittsburgh International Airport.
“Officers were able to locate a microchip on the animal but attempts to reach the owner were unsuccessful,” the post continued.
“The investigation revealed the owner then abandoned the dog near short-term parking and proceeded to board a flight,” the Allegheny County Police Department wrote on Facebook.
The authorities contacted the state dog warden to turn over the animal. They said that the warden is expected to file a charge of animal abandonment against the owner.
A photo accompanying the police department’s Facebook post showed an officer posing with the abandoned canine, reportedly a 7-year-old French bulldog.
Allegheny County Police Sgt. Jason Donaldson further explained the dog’s situation toWTAEon Friday, saying, “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.”
The Allegheny County Police Department told PEOPLE that “officers were able to identify the owner and learned the woman was flying to a resort destination” after allegedly leaving the dog behind. The authorties have “yet to make contact” with the owner, according to the police department.
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Large dogs, however, have to be placed in the plane’s cargo hold for flights in most cases. Dogs traveling in the cargo hold need a crate large enough to allow them to move and stand freely. The rules for pets, emotional support animals, and service animals vary between airlines. Always make sure to consult an airline’s pet rules first before planning a trip.
source: people.com
