Abandoned Airport Goldendoodle Adopted By Las Vegas Hero Cop Who Saved Him
Three weeks after being tied to a ticket counter at Harry Reid International Airport, the pup dubbed Jet Blue has been adopted by the officer who rescued him.
A two-year-old goldendoodle who was abandoned at a JetBlue counter inside Harry Reid International Airport has found his forever home — with the very police officer who answered the call that night.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed on February 21 that Officer Skeeter Black and his family officially adopted the dog now known as Jet Blue.
The announcement comes three weeks after the pup was found tethered to a metal baggage sizer in Terminal 3 on February 2.
Officials described the adoption as “a powerful example of compassion, teamwork, and community partnership.”
The Officer Behind The Rescue
Officer Skeeter Black was among the LVMPD officers who responded when Jet Blue was discovered tied up near the JetBlue counter.
According to News 3 Las Vegas, Black was “deeply moved by the situation” and immediately ensured the confused dog received proper care.
It was not the first time Black had stepped into a high-stakes scene.
In May 2025, he was one of three officers who responded to a fatal shooting at a Las Vegas Athletic Clubs gym, where a gunman killed one person and injured several others before officers engaged and stopped the threat.
Black, 44, has served with LVMPD since 2015 and is assigned to the Community Safety Division out of Bolden Area Command.
A Match Already In The Making
In a twist that feels almost scripted, Black and his family were already approved adopters with Retriever Rescue of Las Vegas months before the airport incident.
Outlined in LVMPD’s social media post, the family had been working to adopt a goldendoodle since September 2025 and had completed the approval process long before Jet Blue entered the picture.
After the dog’s mandatory 10-day hold at The Animal Foundation expired and his former owner failed to reclaim him, Retriever Rescue selected the Black family as the perfect fit.
The rescue said the former owner reportedly hung up when contacted about reclaiming the dog.
“Officer Black is a hero,” said Danielle Roth, founder of Retriever Rescue of Las Vegas, calling the family the “perfect match” for Jet Blue’s forever home.
The Adoption Event
On the morning of February 21, Officer Black and his family arrived at DawgsHouseLV to make the adoption official.
Black appeared in uniform, shared brief remarks, and then headed to duty.
“We’re very excited to add him to our family,” Black said at the event. “We’re gonna enjoy him. He’s gonna be very much loved.”
Photos released by LVMPD showed Jet Blue wagging his tail as Black gave him chin scratches.
Another image captured the family smiling together, the goldendoodle standing confidently on his leash in front of his new owners.
2,500 Adoption Applications Flooded In
Jet Blue’s story quickly spread beyond Las Vegas.
Retriever Rescue told KLAS that more than 2,500 adoption applications poured in after the story went viral.
“This is more than an adoption,” the rescue said. “It’s a story of compassion, accountability, and a hero stepping forward for a dog who deserved better.”
Even JetBlue Airways responded.
According to KTNV, the airline donated $6,000 to Retriever Rescue of Las Vegas, which was then matched by an anonymous donor, bringing the total to $12,000 for the volunteer-run nonprofit.
‘Like He Knew He Was Safe’
Danielle Roth later shared a touching moment with USA TODAY about collecting Jet Blue after his hold period ended.
“He licked our faces, wagged his tail, and jumped up on us,” Roth said. “There was no stress, like he knew he was safe. Like he knew he was never going to be stressed again.”
The rescue added that despite the ordeal, Jet Blue still trusts everyone he meets — something they described as remarkable given what he endured.
What Happens Next
Jet Blue’s former owner, 26-year-old Germiran Bryson, faces multiple misdemeanor charges including animal abandonment, animal abuse, resisting a public officer, and obstructing a public officer with false statements.
Her next court appearance is scheduled for March 31. She has been charged, not convicted, and the case remains pending.
As for Jet Blue, his future looks dramatically different from his past.
He now has a family that had already been searching for a dog just like him, a police officer who answered the call on his worst night, and a city still cheering for his second chance.
As LVMPD put it: “Bon voyage, Jet Blue, and welcome to a new life where you’ll be loved beyond words by Officer Black and his family.”