Woman Charged with Felony After Drowning Dog at Florida Airport
A Louisiana woman has been charged with aggravated animal abuse after allegedly drowning her dog in an airport bathroom when she was denied permission to bring the pet on an international flight. Alison Lawrence, 57, of Kenner, Louisiana, faces a third-degree felony charge for what authorities described as the "cruel and unnecessary death" of her white miniature schnauzer, Tywinn.
The incident occurred on December 16, 2024, at Orlando International Airport. According to an arrest affidavit, Lawrence had planned to fly to Colombia but was prevented from taking the dog due to paperwork issues. Surveillance footage showed her speaking with an airline agent before walking into a bathroom near the ticketing area with the dog. Less than 20 minutes later, she exited the restroom without the animal.
A janitor later found the dog's body in a trash container after noticing Lawrence cleaning up water and dog food in a stall. Investigators confirmed the dog's identity through an implanted microchip, and a necropsy determined that the schnauzer had been drowned. The animal was found with a companion vest, collar, rabies tag, and a dog travel bag.
Authorities reported that Lawrence boarded a flight to Bogotá, Colombia, and later traveled to Ecuador. She was arrested in Lake County, Florida, and released on $5,000 bail pending the outcome of her case.
According to U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines, dogs traveling to Colombia must have a health certificate issued by a veterinarian and proof of rabies vaccination.
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