A 56-year-old woman from Florida is suspected of drowning a Doberman puppy in a US airport toilet after authorities did not allow her to fly with three "too young" puppies.
Cynthia Anderson arrived at a Nebraska airport on Friday with three puppies and two dogs but grew desperate when she was told she could not fly with the pups because they were too young.
Then Volusia County resident allegedly drowned one of the puppies - a Doberman - in an airport bathroom after trying to conceal the pooch in her carry-on luggage, according to the Grand Island Police.
"The puppies, all believed to be three weeks old or less, were too young to fly," said Grand Island police Captain Dean Elliott.
"Their eyes weren't even open," Elliott was quoted as saying by Orlando Sentinel newspaper.
Dogs must be at least 8 weeks old to fly. The other two puppies were picked up by the woman's parents, Elliot said.
Anderson was seen entering a bathroom before another woman reported finding a dead Doberman puppy in the toilet.
She also had two older dogs with her that were cleared to travel.
The Grand Island Central Nebraska Humane Society assisted in the investigation and found water in the puppy's lungs. They determined the cause of the puppy's death was drowning.
The other puppies are being cared for by the Humane Society.
"They're doing great," said Laurie Dethloff, executive director with the Humane Society. "They started off a little scared but are adjusting well."
In Volusia County, Anderson has a criminal record dating back to 2010, when she was arrested and fined for a charge of retail theft, according to court records.
Anderson was out on bail. She is currently being held at Hall County Jail on charges of animal abuse, the report said.
