57-Yr-Old US Woman Arrested For Drowning Dog In Airport Restroom After Denied Boarding | (Photo Courtesy: X/
Orlando: A 57-year-old woman from the United States has been arrested for allegedly drowning her dog in an airport restroom after being denied permission to bring the pet on a flight. The incident took place in December last year at Orlando International Airport, where cleaning staff discovered the dead animal in a restroom before security screening, as per a report by The Independent.
Authorities identified the suspect as Alison Agatha Lawrence, who was attempting to board a flight but lacked the required documentation for her dog. Instead of making alternate arrangements, she allegedly drowned the animal in the restroom and disposed of the remains in a trash bin. Following an investigation, authorities issued an arrest warrant based on evidence from the scene.
Nearly three months later, on March 18, Lawrence was taken into custody on charges of third-degree felony aggravated animal abuse. Court records indicate that she has since been released on a $5,000 bond.
Have a look at the CCTV footage here:
Lawrence’s neighbours claimed she owned a white poodle, though her sister denied any knowledge of the allegations or her whereabouts.
Animal rights activist Bryan Wilson from the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida expressed outrage over the incident, emphasising the severity of the crime. People quoted him as saying, “Obviously, we were shocked when we heard a woman had effectively drowned her companion animal all because she couldn’t get on a plane. This is not a bottle of water or an oversized bottle of shampoo.”
Meanwhile, State Senator Tom Leek referenced the case while addressing lawmakers, linking it to his proposed bill aimed at strengthening penalties for animal cruelty. Speaking in the Senate, he stated, “This is yet another horrible example of why I filed (the bill) related to animal cruelty, which strengthens criminal penalties for those who harm innocent animals.” He further affirmed his commitment to ensuring the bill’s passage through both legislative houses and its approval by Governor Ron DeSantis.
