Service Dog Paperwork Row Ends With Puppy Abandoned At Vegas Terminal
A two-year-old goldendoodle mix was allegedly abandoned at Harry Reid International Airport after his owner was denied boarding on a JetBlue flight, sparking outrage and criminal charges.
A young dog now nicknamed “Jet Blue” has become the unlikely face of a national debate after police say he was tied to a metal baggage sizer and left behind inside a busy Las Vegas airport terminal.
The incident unfolded on February 2 at Harry Reid International Airport, where officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department say a woman attempted to board a JetBlue flight with the dog, claiming him as a service animal but lacking required documentation.
When airline staff refused to issue a boarding pass for the animal, police allege she secured the leash to airport property and proceeded through security without him.
What followed has stunned animal lovers across the country.
What Happened At The Terminal
According to LVMPD and multiple media reports, the confrontation occurred just before 11:40 p.m. at the JetBlue counter in Terminal 3.
Police say the woman arrived with the young goldendoodle/mini poodle mix and attempted to travel with him as a service animal. However, officers state she had not completed the required Department of Transportation service animal forms under JetBlue’s policy.
Airline staff informed her she could not board the dog without proper documentation. Surveillance footage later released by police allegedly shows the woman tying the leash to a metal carry-on baggage sizer near the counter before walking toward her gate.
Airport employees soon noticed the unattended dog and contacted authorities. Video shared by police shows staff kneeling beside the pup, petting him as he lies calmly on the terminal floor, even giving kisses to one employee.
Officers later located the woman near one of the D gates. In body camera footage referenced by police, she reportedly said the dog had a tracking device, implying it was acceptable to leave him behind temporarily.
Police say she became hostile when escorted back through security and was arrested.
The Charges Filed
National and local outlets, including USA TODAY, identified the suspect as 26-year-old Germiran Bryson, citing jail and court records.
She now faces multiple misdemeanor charges, including animal abandonment, animal abuse or cruelty, resisting a public officer, and obstructing a public officer with false statements.
Her next court appearance is reportedly scheduled for March 31. She has been charged, not convicted, and the case remains pending.
In a social media post accompanying the footage, LVMPD added a line that captured the public mood:
“We can’t believe we have to say this… but please don’t abandon your dog at the airport — or anywhere else.”
From Abandoned to Adoption
If there is a silver lining, it is the dog’s remarkable second chance.
Clark County Animal Protection Services initially took custody of him, and he was transferred to The Animal Foundation for the mandatory 10-day hold.
When no one returned to claim him, local nonprofit Retriever Rescue of Las Vegas stepped in.
The rescue renamed him “Jet Blue,” placed him in foster care, and reports say adoption applications have poured in, with dozens of hopeful families expressing interest.
He has since been neutered, vaccinated, and is decompressing in a foster home. For a dog who watched his person disappear into a crowded terminal, it is a stunning reversal of fortune.