A woman has drowned her dog in an airport bathroom after an airline denied her from boarding with the dog. The 57-year-old woman was arrested on the 23rd of March after allegedly drowning her dog in an airport bathroom when she was unable to bring the pet on her flight.
Alison Lawrence had arrived at Orlando International Airport on the 16th of December intending to travel to Colombia. However, her airline, LATAM Airlines, required specific paperwork for her 9-year-old white schnauzer, Tywinn, to travel with her on the plane, which she did not have.
Unable to board with her dog, she later entered an airport restroom, where tragic events unfolded. A janitor at the airport discovered Lawrence inside a handicapped stall, cleaning up a large amount of water and dog food. After stepping away for another cleaning duty, the worker later returned to find the mess had been cleared, but a heavy trash bag was hanging on the stall's wall.
Unable to board with her dog, she later entered an airport restroom, where tragic events unfolded. A janitor at the airport discovered Lawrence inside a handicapped stall, cleaning up a large amount of water and dog food. After stepping away for another cleaning duty, the worker later returned to find the mess had been cleared, but a heavy trash bag was hanging on the stall's wall.
According to the arrest affidavit, inside the bag was a mixture of trash, a dead dog, and a collar bearing Lawrence's name and phone number. An autopsy later confirmed that Tywinn had been drowned, as the dog's body was still wet from the head to the front legs when it was found.
Following the incident, Lawrence successfully left Orlando and traveled to Colombia before continuing to Ecuador. The affidavit does not detail how or when she returned to the United States, but authorities arrested her in Lake County, Florida, on Tuesday. She was later released after posting a $5,000 US bail. Lawrence, a resident of Kenner, Louisiana, now faces charges of aggravated animal abuse, according to inmate records.
Following the incident, Lawrence successfully left Orlando and traveled to Colombia before continuing to Ecuador. The affidavit does not detail how or when she returned to the United States, but authorities arrested her in Lake County, Florida, on Tuesday. She was later released after posting a $5,000 US bail. Lawrence, a resident of Kenner, Louisiana, now faces charges of aggravated animal abuse, according to inmate records.
Laws around aggravated animal abuse in the USA change from state to state.
- Pennsylvania: Aggravated cruelty, which occurs when a person kills, maims, or disfigures an animal, is a third-degree felony, punishable by up to seven years in jail and/or a $15,000 fine.
- Florida: Aggravated animal cruelty is a third-degree felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
- Oregon: Aggravated animal abuse in the first degree is a Class C felony.
- Maryland: Aggravated animal cruelty is a felony with a maximum penalty of up to three years in prison.
- Tennessee: Aggravated cruelty to animals is a Class E felony.
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