Airline denies advising passenger to dispose of hamster

BALTIMORE – A hamster was at the centre of a dispute recently between an airline and a college student.

“Pebbles” was set to travel with her owner, Florida student Belen Aldecosea, on Spirit Airlines when Aldecosea was told her emotional support animal could not join her, according to Time.

A Spirit employee apparently told Aldecosea to either give the animal away or flush it down the toilet.

When the student could not find someone to take the hamster or rent a car instead of flying, she did just that. But Spirit denied the toilet comment.

“At no point did any of our agents suggest this guest (or any other for that matter) should flush or otherwise injure an animal. It is incredibly disheartening to hear this guest reportedly decided to end her own pet’s life.”