Traveler Faces Charges After Abandoning Dog At Pittsburgh Airport

A traveler in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is facing criminal charges after abandoning a dog at the Pittsburgh International Airport before catching a flight.

It’s hard to think of abandoning our fur-babies anywhere, but it’s a sad reality that many pets face.

The Allegheny County Police Department took to Facebook to share about the incident.

On August 4, 2023, they posted a photo of the dog and said, “Don’t leave your pets behind! This morning at approximately 5:30 a.m., ACPD officers working at Pittsburgh International Airport were called to assist with a dog that was found unattended in a stroller on airport property.”

They went on to say that police officers secured the dog, who was found in short-term parking, and found the animal was microchipped. However, attempts to reach the animal’s owner were unsuccessful. Further investigation revealed that the dog’s owner may have attempted to fly with the pooch but was denied boarding, so they left the dog behind.

They said, “Investigators learned the dog’s owner was told by airline officials the dog needed to be placed in a crate in order to fly. The investigation revealed the owner then abandoned the dog near short-term parking and proceeded to board a flight.”

“County police contacted the state dog warden to safely turn over the dog. A charge of animal abandonment is expected to be filed against the owner by the state dog warden,” the post noted.

Mike Wysocki commented on the photo, saying, “I found him there this morning. Some jerk left a little bowl of food under the stroller to slightly ease their guilt. TSA agent took care of him immediately.”

It’s unclear where the dog is being held in the meantime, but it’s likely that he’ll eventually be up for adoption.

This sadly isn’t the first time a dog has been abandoned at an airport. You can read about the puppy found at SFO here or read about the dog found tied to luggage at an airport here!