Woman drowns dog in airport bathroom to board flight
- A Florida woman, Alison Agatha Lawrence, was arrested for drowning her dog in an airport bathroom.
- Lawrence was denied boarding her flight because she lacked the necessary paperwork to travel with her dog.
- Following the incident, she faces charges of aggravated animal cruelty.
In December 2024, a tragic incident occurred at Orlando International Airport in Florida, where a woman named Alison Agatha Lawrence was involved in the death of her dog. Lawrence had arrived at the airport with her nine-year-old miniature schnauzer named Tywinn, intending to board a flight to Colombia and subsequently to Ecuador. However, she was informed by airline staff that she lacked the necessary documentation to bring her pet onboard as per the airline's requirements. This denial led to an extreme and heartbreaking decision by Lawrence. After being informed that she could not travel with her dog due to improper paperwork, Lawrence went to a bathroom stall in the airport. Surveillance footage showed the woman interacting with airline employees before she retreated to the restroom, which was later found to be the site of the shocking incident. An airport employee noticed Lawrence had been in the stall for an unusually long period and observed her on the ground attempting to clean up a significant amount of water and dog food. Upon returning to the bathroom after attending to another matter, the employee discovered a trash bag that felt heavier than usual. Upon inspecting it, the employee found Tywinn's lifeless body alongside dog-related items including a collar and tags that led authorities to identify the dog. A necropsy revealed that the cause of death was drowning, indicating that Lawrence had taken the extreme action of submerging her pet in water. Lawrence was apprehended several months later on March 18, 2025, and charged with aggravated animal cruelty, a third-degree felony. She was taken into custody in Lake County and is being held with a bond set at $5,000. This incident raises pressing ethical questions regarding the treatment of animals during travel and highlights the importance of being prepared with necessary documents when traveling with pets. The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority responded by emphasizing the need for travelers to check guidelines set by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regarding travel with animals, as such tragic outcomes could be prevented with proper knowledge and preparation.