Woman Abandons Her Dog at Airport After Being Told He Can’t Board Flight

Last week, a woman boarding a flight at the Brussels Airport in Belgium was told that her dog, Pako, wouldn’t be able to fly with her. In response, she did the unthinkable, abandoning Pako and taking off on her own — a move that has disturbed animal advocates around the globe.

Pako is an American Bully, which is a brachycephalic — aka flat-faced — dog breed. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, brachycephalic dogs are more vulnerable than other pups to changes in air quality, circulation, and temperature; their narrow airways can cause them to overheat or struggle to breathe. For this reason, many airlines don’t accommodate brachycephalic breeds on flights.

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SRPA Veeweyde, an animal shelter in Brussels, received Pako shortly after his guardian abandoned him. “Instead of giving up her vacation or looking for a responsible solution, she flew alone and called a taxi to send her dog to us,” the shelter shared on Facebook.

According to Belgian law, for an animal surrender to be legal, the person surrendering a pet must be present with an ID card. “Having a dog delivered by taxi can in no way be considered an acceptable method of abandonment,” the shelter said. “The driver found himself completely unprepared with an abandoned dog on his hands.”

Commenters reacted with horror, responding that the guardian’s negligence was irresponsible and could have put Pako in danger. “A dog is a member of your family and completely dependent on you,” one Instagram user wrote. “It’s your responsibility to either cancel your plans or arrange for a trusted family member to pick up the dog before you even enter the airport.”

After several days, relatives of Pako’s guardian reached out to the shelter to bring Pako home. He will not be returned to his original guardian, who has permanently left the country, but to the concerned relatives who returned for him. The shelter is confident that Pako will be going to a stable and secure environment. In the end, the SRPA Veeweyde decided not to seek out legal consequences for Pako’s original guardian.

“At the heart of this situation is a sociable, balanced, and affectionate dog who deserves, above all, to find peace and quiet,” the shelter shared. “We hope that the family environment in which he has been placed will provide him with the stability and affection he deserves.”