In a troubling incident at an airport in Orlando, Florida, a woman deliberately drowned her pet dog in a restroom before continuing with her travel plans, according to law enforcement officials. This disturbing event unfolded when she faced a bureaucratic snag that prevented her from taking her miniature schnauzer aboard her international flight due to incomplete documentation.
Following the incident, she was subsequently apprehended in Lake County on charges of aggravated animal abuse, a third-degree felony in the state. Despite her arrest, she was able to secure her release on a $5,000 bail. Authorities expressed their sympathy through an affidavit by the Orlando Police Department, describing the act as intentional and leading to unnecessary suffering for her pet.
Details from online court documents indicate that the woman, who hails from Kenner, Louisiana, did not have legal representation listed at the time. The case drew attention starting last December when a janitor discovered the deceased schnauzer, named Tywinn, wrapped in a garbage bag inside a restroom at Orlando International Airport.
Prior to this discovery, the janitor noticed the woman cleaning up spilled water and dog food on the restroom floor. However, after being interrupted by a cleaning emergency, she returned to find the lifeless animal stashed away. Alongside Tywinn, various items linked to the dog, such as a companion vest, collar, rabies tag, travel carrier, and a personalized dog tag bearing the woman’s contact information were found, according to investigators.
Footage from airport surveillance cameras revealed the woman engaging in a 15-minute conversation with a Latam Airlines agent while the dog was with her. The video captures her entering the restroom with Tywinn but exiting alone just under 20 minutes later. Post-bathroom visit, she exited the terminal briefly, reentered, passed through security checks, and boarded a flight destined for Colombia.
Authorities stated that the airline had refused her passage with Tywinn as she lacked the necessary documentation. U.S. regulations require that dogs heading to Colombia carry a health certificate from a vet and proof of rabies vaccination. Investigators identified the drowned dog using its microchip, and a necropsy confirmed the cause of death. Further investigations by U.S. Customs and Border Protection verified that the woman had indeed boarded a plane to Bogota, later continuing her travels to Ecuador.