The Airport Dog Outrage That Exposed A Surprising Gap In Nevada’s Animal Laws
When the story of “JetBlue,” the 2-year-old doodle left tied to a ticket counter at Harry Reid International Airport, first broke, most readers assumed the same thing: once the owner walked away, her rights were gone for good.
But Clark County officials have now revealed a surprising twist.
For 10 days after the incident, the woman accused of abandoning him could still have legally reclaimed the dog.
What Happened At The Airport
According to an arrest report obtained by KTNV, 26-year-old Germiran Bryson went to the JetBlue counter on February 2 with her dog.
Airline staff told her the animal was not properly registered to fly and that additional paperwork was required.
Police say Bryson allegedly told an airline employee to call animal control because she did not want to miss her flight, tied the dog’s leash to a metal baggage sizer, and walked toward security.
Airline staff refused to let her board and contacted police.
She was cited for misdemeanor animal abandonment, resisting a public officer, and providing false information or obstructing an officer. She is scheduled to appear in court on March 31.
The 10-Day Reclaim Window Explained
After officers took custody of the dog, Clark County Animal Protection Services placed him on a legal “stray hold” from February 3 through February 13.
During that entire 10-day period, county officials confirmed the owner could have come forward, proved ownership, and taken him home.
That detail stunned many animal advocates who believed abandonment would automatically terminate ownership rights.
Why The Owner Still Had Legal Rights
The explanation lies in how Nevada law classifies pets.
Under state law, dogs and other companion animals are generally treated as personal property. That means ownership rights do not immediately disappear simply because an animal has been impounded or the owner has been cited with a misdemeanor.
In JetBlue’s case, there was no immediate court-ordered forfeiture tied to the abandonment citation. Without a judge’s order or a felony-level seizure, the county treated the dog as legally eligible for reclaim during the standard holding period.
A Clark County spokesperson explained:
“When it comes to reclaiming an abandoned pet, it depends on the circumstances of the case. In the case you are referring to, the dog could have been reclaimed by its owner. This dog had a 10-day legal hold placed on it from February 3 – February 13. It was cleared to be adopted after that date.”
Only after February 13 did full authority to place him in a new home shift to the county and its rescue partner.
What Happened After the Hold Expired
Once the hold ended, JetBlue was cleared for adoption and transferred to Retriever Rescue of Las Vegas.
After an overwhelming outpouring of interest, he was ultimately adopted by one of the responding officers who answered the original call at the airport.
What began as a story of confusion and controversy turned into a heartwarming finale.
From a legal standpoint, however, the most important date was February 13. That was the moment the original owner’s reclaim window officially closed and the rescue’s adoption authority became clear.
Calls for Lawmakers to Step In
The case is now fueling broader debate about whether Nevada’s statutes need tightening.
Critics argue that in cases of documented, intentional abandonment, such as allegedly tying a dog to a counter and walking away, reclaim rights should be suspended immediately or forfeiture should be fast-tracked without waiting out a standard stray hold.
John Waudby, founder of Nevada Animal Advocates, told KTNV that lawmakers need to “clean that language up just a little bit and send a strong message that yeah, we’re not playing around in Nevada anymore when it comes to animal cruelty and that’s what it is, plain and simple.”
In practical terms, that could mean future legislation distinguishing between routine lost-pet situations and documented abandonment cases when determining reclaim rights.