Dog abandoned at Las Vegas airport finds new home at rescue

Woman charged with animal abandonment and resisting arrest after leaving Goldendoodle at JetBlue counter

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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A woman has been charged with animal abandonment and resisting arrest after she left her 2-year-old Goldendoodle dog inside Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas and boarded her flight alone. The dog, now named JetBlue, was rescued by Retriever Rescue of Las Vegas and is now available for adoption after spending 10 days with animal control.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the growing problem of pet abandonment, which can have serious consequences for the animals involved. It also raises questions about airport policies and procedures for handling situations where passengers are unable or unwilling to travel with their pets.

The details

According to police, the passenger attempted to board a JetBlue flight but failed to complete the required paperwork to fly with the animal as a service dog. Airline staff denied her a boarding pass, but rather than take the dog with her, she left the animal at the ticket counter and proceeded to her gate. When police found the woman, she was unapologetic and told them the Goldendoodle had a tracking device and that someone would return the dog home.

  • The incident occurred on February 2, 2026 around 11:30 p.m.
  • The dog, now named JetBlue, spent 10 days with animal control after his owner refused to claim him.

The players

Danielle Roth

Founder of Retriever Rescue of Las Vegas, the organization that responded to the call from Metro police and took in the abandoned dog.

JetBlue

The 2-year-old Goldendoodle dog that was abandoned at the airport and is now available for adoption through Retriever Rescue of Las Vegas.

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What they’re saying

“'We are going to walk you back to where your dog is, and we are going to issue you a citation,'”

— Police Officer (fox5vegas.com)

“'We made him a promise that he will never be abandoned again,'”

— Danielle Roth, Founder, Retriever Rescue of Las Vegas (fox5vegas.com)

What’s next

Retriever Rescue of Las Vegas will be hosting an adoption event on Saturday at Dog's House on West Sahara with about 14 dogs available for adoption, including JetBlue.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of responsible pet ownership and the need for better education and support for pet owners traveling with their animals. It also showcases the vital work of animal rescue organizations like Retriever Rescue of Las Vegas in providing care and finding forever homes for abandoned pets.