Woman Arrested After Allegedly Abandoning Puppy at Las Vegas Airport
A 26-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with animal abandonment after allegedly leaving her golden doodle puppy tied to baggage equipment at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas when airline staff told her she couldn't bring the dog on her flight.
Incident Details and Police Response
Germiran Bryson, 26, arrived at the Las Vegas airport earlier this month and attempted to board a JetBlue flight around 11:30 p.m. According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, ticket desk agents informed Bryson she couldn't board because she hadn't completed the proper paperwork to bring her two-year-old golden doodle onboard as a service animal.
Police say Bryson then tied the dog to a metal carry-on baggage sizer and walked toward the departure gate, leaving the animal behind. Officers later located Bryson and questioned her about abandoning the dog. She reportedly told police the airline wouldn't allow her to fly with the animal and claimed the dog had a tracking device.
Confrontation and Arrest
When officers attempted to escort Bryson back to the security checkpoint, she became hostile and resisted detention, leading to her arrest. She has been charged with both animal abandonment and resisting arrest.
The police department released surveillance footage showing Bryson at the ticket counter with the dog's leash in hand as the puppy excitedly circled around her. After speaking with the attendant, Bryson is seen walking away with her luggage while leaving the dog behind. Airport staff subsequently approached the abandoned animal, with one employee kneeling to pet the dog.
Body Camera Footage Reveals Exchange
Body camera footage released by police shows officers confronting Bryson at Gate D1. "I'm going to throw my bags down because I'm exhausted," she told officers. One officer responded, "No, what we're gonna do is walk you back to where your dog's at and give you a citation, because you left your dog at the ticket counter."
Bryson became defensive, insisting she was trying to rebook her flight. When pressed about why she left her dog behind, she claimed she was following instructions from airport staff. The officer replied incredulously, "To walk out here without your dog?!"
Puppy's Current Status and Adoption Interest
The golden doodle, now named JetBlue, was initially taken in by Animal Protective Services. After Bryson failed to return for the animal, Retriever Rescue of Las Vegas assumed care and is now seeking a permanent home for the dog.
The shelter reported receiving numerous calls, messages, and adoption applications for JetBlue. In a statement, they emphasized their careful selection process for the dog's permanent family, noting, "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 shelter added that while they have many applications for JetBlue, they also have other dogs awaiting adoption and encouraged people moved by the story to consider those animals as well. They also thanked JetBlue ticket counter employees for their immediate intervention.
