Throughout my time working in animal welfare, I’ve come across so many abandonment cases, and somehow each one manages to hit even harder than the one before.
People usually show up with a whole list of reasons for leaving a pet behind, but honestly, not a single excuse ever makes it okay.
There’s just no acceptable justification for walking away from a dog with no food, no water, and no safe place to stay—especially when there’s help out there through shelters and rescues that exist for that exact reason.
And leaving a dog behind just because they couldn’t get on a plane? That’s a special kind of heartless. That’s exactly what happened at an airport in Iowa, and now the person who did it is facing serious consequences.
Stranded At The Airport
This story might sound like something from a movie, but for a pup named Stella, it was all too real.
Much like the character in The Terminal, Stella found herself stuck at an airport, confused and alone, unsure what her future would hold.
Her story began when airport workers noticed her wandering outside, frightened and waiting for someone who never came back.
According to an Instagram post from the Animal Rescue League of Iowa (ARL Iowa), staff initially referred to her as a “Jane Doe dog” until they were able to uncover what had happened.
“[…] airline workers told us the dog was unable to board the cross-country flight home with her owner because the owner did not have a kennel. They said the owner left the airport with the dog, but returned alone, and went on to board their flight.”
Since no one knew her real name, the rescue team decided to call her Allie.
Facing The Consequences
The man who abandoned her may have believed he could leave without facing repercussions, but as ARL Iowa’s director, Tom Colvin, explained, justice was already on its way.
The owner, identified in media reports as Charles Bigsen, had attempted to board a flight from Iowa to New Jersey without a kennel for his dog, assuming the airport would supply one.
When he was told that his dog could not travel without proper containment, he reportedly tried to find someone to look after her while he continued with his plans. When no one agreed, he tied her outside and left.
Colvin confirmed that Bigsen is now facing charges of animal neglect and abandonment. Legal action will continue once he returns to Iowa.
From Despair To Hope
Allie’s days of waiting outside the airport finally ended when ARL Iowa stepped in to save her.
After receiving a warm bath, a veterinary checkup, and plenty of affection, she began to recover both physically and emotionally.
The staff initially worried it might take a while to find her the perfect home, but Allie’s personality quickly changed their minds.
Her sweet nature and playful spirit soon caught the attention of a family who had seen her at the airport on the very day she was abandoned.
In a joyful update, ARL Iowa shared:
“We’re happy to tell you that Allie, the dog left at the Des Moines airport, was adopted yesterday (January 12, 2023) by a family who saw her at the airport the day she was abandoned. Her new family has already reached out to us with an update, saying Allie is settling in very well.”
Now, Allie has everything she once dreamed of: a loving home, a family who adores her, and the comfort she was once denied.
Her story serves as an important reminder that abandoning an animal is never the answer. There are always shelters, rescues, and kind people willing to help.
Every dog deserves what Allie finally found: safety, care, and unconditional love.
