Texas Man Charged After Allegedly Abandoning His Puppy In The Departures Area Of Pittsburgh International Airport

A man accused of abandoning his puppy astatine an airdrome aft being incapable to alert pinch it, and later claiming that an "Uber driver" had ditched nan young dog, has been arrested connected animal cruelty charges.

42-year-old Omar Perez of Texas was approached by authorities successful nan terminal who had begun their inquiries aft reports of a Labrador puppy moving free adjacent nan curb extracurricular Pittsburgh International Airport's departures area astatine astir 5 p.m. connected Friday.

Perez told officers he had seen an Uber driver discard nan animal, but they later learned that Perez had simply near nan canine connected its ain astatine nan airdrome aft learning he would not beryllium capable to return it connected committee nan flight.

"Don't time off your pets behind," said nan Allegheny County Police Department in a statement. "We will analyse and we will record charges."

Posting a photograph of nan pup connected Facebook, nan constabulary added: "At astir 5:00 p.m. today, County Police officers moving astatine Pittsburgh International Airport were notified of an abandoned canine moving loose astatine nan departures curb. Officers and witnesses were capable to find and safely unafraid nan dog."

They added: "The dog, a Labrador puppy, is doing good and will beryllium placed successful foster care. A typical shoutout to Patrol Officer Riley Tkatch for his domiciled successful nan investigation and helping unafraid a safe location for nan dog!"

Underneath nan charismatic societal media post, galore group expressed their adoration of nan abandoned pup, arsenic good arsenic their displeasure pinch Perez.

"What a beautiful pup! Thank you for redeeming that saccharine angel and giving him a amended life! What is incorrect pinch people!" added Mandi Lion.

Debbie Forrest went further: "How could anyone do this to specified an guiltless puppy ? That P.O.S. deserves nan book thrown astatine him. This gorgeous babe will now beryllium shown what emotion is."

This is not nan first clip Pittsburgh International Airport has been utilized arsenic an impromptu dog-drop-off facility.

In 2023, a female near her canine successful a stroller adjacent short‑term parking aft being told she needed a crate to alert pinch it, CBS News reported. She declined nan crate, declined nan dog, and accepted a formation to Mexico instead. Charges were later withdrawn aft a blameworthy plea, and she paid a $150 good – astir nan aforesaid costs arsenic a mid‑range airline-approved canine crate.

Just months later, different canine was recovered tied to a rod successful Pittsburgh's short-term parking garage.