Woman Who Allegedly Abandoned Dog At Pgh. Airport To Stand Trial

PITTSBURGH, PA — A woman accused of abandoning her dog at Pittsburgh International Airport in August will stand trial on several charges.

Allison Lyn Gaiser of East Franklin, Armstrong County, waived a preliminary hearing on Monday. She is facing a misdemeanor count of animal cruelty as well as summary violations of animal cruelty, animal neglect and abandoning a dog within the state.

Allegheny County police found the bulldog unattended in a stroller near the entrance to the short-term parking lot on Aug. 4. They located a microchip on the animal but attempts to reach its owner, subsequently identified as Gaiser, were unsuccessful.

Police said Gaiser originally tried to get a boarding pass for the animal as an emotional support animal, but when she was told an appropriate carrier was needed, she left the dog behind and boarded her flight.

The dog has been in foster care, according to Animal Friends. The organization has received numerous requests from across the country from people who want to permanently adopt the canine, but that won't happen until the case is resolved.

"We are grateful for the interest and compassion, but for now we are focused on moving this case forward and ensuring the dog receives the justice he deserves," Animal Friends said in a release. "The outcome of the case will determine his next steps and his final home."