A man from Texas has been charged with animal cruelty after he allegedly left behind a Labrador puppy outside an airport in Pennsylvania when he realised the dog wouldn’t be allowed on his flight.
According to a report by local news outlet WDBJ7, the incident took place on the evening of March 20 at Pittsburgh International Airport. Police received a call about a puppy wandering near the departure area. When officers reached the spot, they were able to safely catch the dog with help from people present there. The puppy was later identified as a Labrador.
In a social media post, the Allegheny County Police Department shared further details about what happened. When questioned, the man initially claimed that he had seen a rideshare driver abandon the dog at the airport. However, further investigation revealed that he was the owner and had left the puppy behind after realising he wouldn’t be able to take it on the flight.
The department wrote, “Don’t leave your pets behind. We will investigate and we will file charges. At approximately 5:00 pm, County Police officers working at Pittsburgh International Airport were notified of an abandoned dog running loose at the departures curb. Officers and witnesses were able to locate and safely secure the dog. Through their investigation, officers made contact with 42-year-old Omar Perez of Texas. Perez initially claimed he witnessed an Uber driver abandon the dog, but it was later determined Perez was the owner and left the dog when he realised he was unable to fly with it. Perez is facing multiple charges, including animal cruelty and animal abandonment.”
Police have confirmed that the man is now facing charges related to both animal cruelty and abandonment. No further updates have been shared so far.
The puppy, meanwhile, is safe and being looked after. Authorities said the dog has been placed with a foster family and is recovering well.
This isn’t the first such incident at the airport. In 2023, another passenger reportedly left behind a French Bulldog at Pittsburgh International Airport after being told the pet wouldn’t be allowed on the flight without proper documentation proving it was an emotional support animal. The earlier case had also raised concerns about pets being abandoned at major travel hubs.
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