Goldendoodle abandoned at airport is adopted by cop who rescued her
A young golden doodle at the airport, wearing nothing but a leash and confusion, landed in a better place than any arrival gate: the seat of the officer who rescued him.
The dog was found tied to a carry-on luggage counter near the JetBlue ticket counter at Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport Terminal 3 earlier this month, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
A group of Las Vegas police officers responded to reports of a dog being abandoned on Feb. 2 at 11:39 p.m. After speaking with airline personnel, officers learned that the owner abandoned his dog when he was told he would have to complete additional paperwork to bring it onto the plane as a service animal.
Officers then followed the owner to Gate D1, where he was waiting to board the plane. He became defensive when officers questioned him, stating that the airline wouldn’t let him fly with him and that the dog had a tracking device, “insinuating that it was acceptable to leave the animal behind and that he would return to it.”
The woman then became aggressive and resisted attempts by the officers accompanying her to detain her as she passed through the security checkpoint. He was later arrested on suspicion of abandoning the animal and resisting arrest.
But, in a twist of events, one of the responding officers had been trying to adopt the golden doodle since September and had already been groomed by Las Vegas Retriever Rescue.
Jet Blue was abandoned at Harry Reid International Airport on February 2.
(Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department)
The 2-year-old dog, affectionately nicknamed Jet Blue, officially moved in with Officer Skeeter Black and her family on Sunday.
“What began as a heartbreaking act of abandonment turned into a powerful example of compassion, teamwork and community partnership,” the ministry said in a statement. “Jet Blue’s next journey begins, this time surrounded by people who stepped in when it was needed most.”
Before being adopted, Jet Blue was cared for by Animal Protective Services during a mandatory 10-day hold to see if his owner would claim him. When he didn’t, Las Vegas Retriever Rescue chose Officer Black as the dog’s new owner.
“We can’t believe we have to say this,” the Police Department said, “but please do not leave your dog at the airport or anywhere else.”
