When she booked her flight, Belen Aldecosea, 21, was told she could bring her "emotional support" hamster aboard; however, she was told she could not once she arrived at the airport. Aldecosea claims that after she was unable to rent a car, an employee of Spirit Airlines suggested she get rid of the hamster by flushing it down a toilet, which she did.
According to the Miami Herald, Aldecosea twice called Spirit Airlines to ensure she could bring along Pebbles, her pet dwarf hamster.
Now, Aldecosea is threatening legal action.
Spirit Airlines denies the incident, saying, "After researching this incident, we can say confidently that at no point did any of our agents suggest this Guest (or any other for that matter) should flush or otherwise injure an animal. Our reservation representative, unfortunately, did misinform the guest that a hamster was permitted to fly as an emotional support animal."