Woman Arrested After Dog Found Dead in Airport Restroom

A woman has been arrested in connection with an incident involving the death of a dog at the Orlando International Airport on Dec. 16, 2024, after she was allegedly told that the pet could not board a flight due to a lack of "proper paperwork."

Florida woman charged for drowning dog in airport

The incident came to light when officers were dispatched to the airport following reports from staff who discovered a deceased dog in a women's restroom. The Orlando Police Department later identified the dog's owner as Alison Agatha Lawrence, who faces charges of aggravated animal cruelty, a third-degree felony, according to a warrant issued based on the investigation.

According to the Orlando Police Department, the arrest came after a necropsy revealed that the dog likely died from drowning or being submerged in water. The findings prompted law enforcement to issue a warrant for Lawrence's arrest, leading to her apprehension earlier this week in Lake County. She is currently being held on a $5,000 bond and is expected to be extradited to Orange County of Florida to face the charges.

Allegations of Agitation and Extreme Action

Furthermore, newly disclosed details in the probable cause statement allege that Lawrence became agitated after being informed that her dog could not board the flight due to the absence of the required documents. The report asserts that she took "extreme and tragic action" by allegedly causing the dog's death.

Lawrence's interaction with airline staff before the incident was captured on surveillance video, which reportedly shows her conversing with an airline employee and a check-in counter employee prior to being informed about the pet's denial of boarding due to improper paperwork.

On the day of the incident, an airport employee noticed an unusually long duration spent in one of the bathroom stalls by a woman, who appeared to be cleaning up a significant amount of water and dog food from the floor. Upon returning to the bathroom after a brief absence, the employee found a heavier-than-normal trash bag which, upon inspection, contained a deceased white dog, along with various dog-related items.

Lawrence's alleged exaction after the incident, including proceeding through airport security and boarding a flight to Colombia, has drawn further scrutiny, with Orlando police asserting that her actions following the pet's death indicate a possible link to the alleged crime.