A Texas man has been arrested on animal cruelty charges after allegedly abandoning his puppy at Pittsburgh International Airport. Omar Perez, 42, was approached by police in the terminal on Friday after reports of a Labrador puppy running loose near the departures curb at around 5 pm.
Perez initially told officers he had seen an Uber driver discard the animal. However, police later discovered that Perez had left the puppy at the airport after being told he could not take it on his flight. The Allegheny County Police Department stated, 'Don't leave your pets behind. We will investigate and we will file charges.'
The puppy was safely secured by officers and witnesses. Police posted a photo on Facebook, saying the dog 'is doing well and will be placed in foster care.' They also gave a special shoutout to Patrol Officer Riley Tkatch for his role in the investigation and helping secure a safe home for the dog.
This is not the first time Pittsburgh International Airport has seen pets abandoned. In 2023, a woman left her dog in a stroller near short-term parking after being told she needed a crate to fly. She declined the crate and flew to Mexico instead, later paying a $150 fine. Months later, another dog was found tied to a pole in the short-term parking garage.
