Idiot of the Week: Dog Abandoned At Airport By Owner Going To Departure Gate

This is EXACTLY why the country needs a "Do Not Adopt" registry for animals. This week's idiot is a woman traveling at Harry Reid airport in Nevada who abandoned her 2-year-old dog at the airport to catch a flight. Unbelievable. At least the Idiot was arrested and the dog went to a rescue, where I learned he was adopted by February 20th. See below!

(Photo: A woman traveling at Harry Reid airport in Nevada is accused of abandoning her 2-year-old dog at the airport to catch a flight.Las Vegas Metro Police Department

Dog Abandoned At Airport By Owner Going To Departure Gate

 “When asked why she abandoned the dog, she stated the airline would not allow her to fly with it and claimed the dog had a tracking device," police said.

Huffington Post, Pocharapon Neammanee Feb 19, 2026, 05:27 PM EST

A woman was arrested at Harry Reid International Airport in Nevada earlier this month after police say she abandoned her 2-year-old goldendoodle at the airport following her failure to complete service dog documentation.

“We can’t believe we have to say this… but please don’t abandon your dog at the airport — or anywhere else,” The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said in a press release Wednesday.

Video of the Feb. 2 incident shared by police showed the woman, whose identity was not released, speaking with airport staff at the JetBlue ticket counter with her dog before leaving it tied to what authorities said was a metal carry-on baggage sizer.

A woman traveling at Harry Reid airport in Nevada is accused of abandoning her 2-year-old dog at the airport to catch a flight.Las Vegas Metro Police Department According to police, the woman was denied a boarding pass after failing to complete the online documentation required to travel with her pet as a service dog.

She then attempted to make her way to the departure gate, but bodycam footage shared by police shows officers confronting the woman there, informing her that they would escort her back to her dog and issue a citation for leaving him at the ticket counter.

“When asked why she abandoned the dog, she stated the airline would not allow her to fly with it and claimed the dog had a tracking device — implying it was acceptable to leave the animal behind and it would return to her,” police said.

Police say the woman “became hostile” while being escorted back and resisted officers’ attempts to restrain her. She was then arrested and booked on charges of animal abandonment and resisting arrest.

The 2-year-old dog was taken into Animal Protective Services’ custody, but its owner never returned. After a mandatory 10-day hold period, the dog was transferred to Retriever Rescue of Las Vegas, where he was renamed JetBlue.

“While that part of his story is heartbreaking, what has followed has been nothing short of extraordinary,” the animal rescue said in a statement online.

“This sweet boy is incredible. Truly incredible. And after everything he’s been through, the thought of him ever experiencing abandonment again has us on very high alert,” the statement continued. “We will be extremely intentional in choosing his forever family. He deserves stability. Security. Commitment. A lifetime promise.”

The rescue’s spokesperson, Danielle Roth, told People, “Despite experiencing abandonment, JetBlue has shown nothing but love.”

“He is affectionate, gentle, and incredibly social. He greets everyone with trust and warmth, which is honestly remarkable given what he went through,” Roth said. The rescue said JetBlue has received an outpouring of love and applications to adopt him, adding that his story has brought awareness to abandonment laws.

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FOLLOW UP!  I checked the Rescue website on February 20th, when I wrote this blog, and Jetblue was adopted!