A man faces animal abandonment and neglect charges after leaving his adorable dog tied up at an Iowa airport while catching a flight bound for New Jersey.
Bigsen Charles, 24, claims he didn’t realize he needed a kennel to transport his pup on the plane – so he decided to tie the pup outside the airport and travel alone instead.
Stella, the pup, was abandoned outside Des Moines Iowa Airport Thursday morning after Charles paid the fare for the dog and assumed that was all he needed before boarding his flight to Newark.
He told : “I’ve already checked in and didn’t want to miss my flight. I thought if I paid for the dog on the plane they would give her a kennel. I didn’t realize I had to bring my own.”
Stella will now be given a new home after being left at the airport by Bigsen Charles, 24
Stella is taken care of by zookeepers after she’s found tied up outside an Iowa airport. Her owner Bigsen Charles, 24, is now facing charges of animal neglect and abandonment for leaving the adorable pup alone while boarding a flight
The exterior of Des Moines Airport in Iowa, where Stella was tied up and departed Thursday morning after her owner rushed to catch a flight bound for Newark, New Jersey
Charles said he asked the driver who took him to the airport to pick up his dog and he would pay him double – but the driver couldn’t. He then asked people at the airport if he could leave his puppy inside.
When he couldn’t make any progress, Charles said he tied his bitch and left her outside. He said he hoped one of his friends might be able to help him with the dog eventually picking her up, but he couldn’t reach her.
“I cried when I left her because I didn’t want to leave her. I bought the dog for my daughter,” he said. “I knew someone would end up taking her.”
When airport officials saw the abandoned dog, they immediately contacted the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, who sent an animal control officer to rescue the pup.
Stella hugs Carley, one of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa keepers
Tina Updegrove told exclusively that she had been trying to contact the owner since Thursday when she first saw the dog. The airport staff gave her a blanket until she could bring the puppy to the shelter.
“During the drive from the airport to the shelter, she warmed to me. Her tail wagged and she smiled. She’s pretty awesome. Such a darling,’ said Updegrove.
Charles said his girlfriend booked his flight back to New Jersey from Iowa online with Allegiant Airlines. She had also paid the $50 airfare for the dog’s flight, but was unaware of what else was required of him before boarding.
He also said he hasn’t told his girlfriend what happened to Stella since he got back home in New Jersey.
Tina Updegrove exclusively told that she has been trying to contact the dog’s owner since Thursday. She said airport staff gave her a blanket and lots of love until she could take the pup to the shelter
“She asks about it every day. She didn’t know I left her at the airport. She would kick me out if she knew.”
Charles said he moved to Iowa in April and flew home to New Jersey after saying he was fired from his job. He bought the seven-month-old dog from a friend in July.
He said his girlfriend and one-year-old daughter had traveled back to New Jersey without him days earlier and that his plan was to meet her in the Garden State with his pup Stella.
Updegrove said she has tried to contact Charles since the ordeal but he has not returned her calls.
On Monday, when she finally got in touch with him due to ‘s intervention, she said if he hadn’t responded she should have issued a warrant for his arrest and he would be charged with animal neglect and abandonment.
She said he confessed to her that he knew what he had done was wrong.
“He broke the law. He understood he was doing it. If he flies to Des Moines and comes into contact with the police, he can be arrested on those charges,” she said.
Charles said he moved to Iowa in April and flew home to New Jersey after saying he was fired from his job. He bought the seven-month-old dog from a friend in July
Updegrove is seen here with another abandoned dog, who she said had roamed free in a rural area of Des Moines and had taken up residence in an abandoned trailer. She said she was able to track down and catch the dog and named him Saylor. He is now adopted
Stella is cared for at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa. She will be neutered and examined before being placed in her forever home. Her former owner said that Stella is good with children and other dogs
She said he could fly back to Des Moines and face the judge. “If he pleads guilty, he will have to pay a fine,” Updegrove said, “but if he pleads not guilty, he will most likely face a trial.”
Meanwhile, she said Stella will be spayed and put up for adoption.
“He gave up on Stella verbally. I told him the dog was fine and happy and he gave me permission to find the dog a new home.’
Charles also told that “he knows he made the wrong decision”. He also said he finally told his girlfriend what happened to her Stella.
“She was angry, but everything is fine now. She just wants me to get another dog.”