A woman from Florida was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly drowning her dog in an Orlando airport bathroom so she could board a flight.
Alison Lawrence, 57, was taken into custody in connection with the incident that happened on December 16, 2023, at Orlando International Airport. According to an Orlando Police report, she arrived at the airport with her 9-year-old miniature schnauzer named Tywinn, but she did not have the required paperwork to bring the dog onto the flight. Airport staff informed her that she could not board with the dog.
Surveillance footage showed Lawrence entering the airport with Tywinn. Later, an airport worker saw her inside a bathroom stall, cleaning up a large amount of water and dog food from the floor. The employee left briefly but returned shortly after to take out the trash. That’s when they discovered something horrifying—a trash bag containing the dog’s body and its collar with a tag.
Lawrence’s name and contact details were on the dog tag. Animal services arrived at the scene and confirmed that the dog belonged to Lawrence by scanning its microchip. A further investigation revealed that Tywinn’s cause of death was drowning. According to the police report, Lawrence deliberately killed the dog after being denied permission to fly with it.
A photo released by Orlando Police showed the dog’s collar and tag with Lawrence’s name.
On Tuesday, March 19, police arrested Lawrence in Lake County, Florida. She is now facing a third-degree felony charge for aggravated animal cruelty. If convicted, she could face serious legal consequences.
The police reported that Lawrence was released on a $5,000 bond after her arrest. Authorities described this as a tragic and extreme case of animal cruelty, and they are continuing to investigate the incident.
This heartbreaking case has sparked outrage among animal rights activists, who are demanding stricter laws to prevent cruelty toward pets. Many are calling for harsher punishments for those who harm animals, ensuring that such acts do not happen again.
