Trust that a dog will follow its owner everywhere, even to the airport.
A Texas couple recently realized this when they discovered that their pet Chihuahua had hidden in one of their suitcases.
Kristi and Jared Owens were checking their bags at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport late last month when they were told their luggage was overweight. They could pay for extra luggage or rearrange their items to make it lighter before catching their flight from Texas to Las Vegas. They opted for the second option, and were glad they did.
They opened the suitcase and “get a chihuahua out of your boot!” Owens recalled in a Facebook post. His five-pound rescue chihuahua, Icky, was hidden inside his cowboy boots. “Unreal! Let the mischief begin!”
“Right out of the trunk, Icky’s head is moving up and down with his tongue sticking out. I wish there had been a picture of our faces when we opened it and saw it, ”Owens said. The Washington Post.
The couple have two children, three dogs, a rabbit, and lots of fish, which naturally gives them a full house. “We were just looking for a little romantic getaway, a little getaway,” Ms. Owens said.
The couple suspect that Icky snuck into their suitcases when Mr. Owens did a final round of packing the morning of his trip to put his boots away before zipping up for good. Ms. Owen had already packed the night before, so she dismissed herself as the culprit.
He added that that moment was surreal. “Are we really seeing our dog in our suitcase right now? Is this happening? she asked. But they were also embarrassed and concerned that airline officials might think they deliberately sneaked their dog in.
The airline security officer who attended them, however, made it easy for them. Cathy Cook offered to see Icky and suggested that the couple continue on vacation.
“Them [Southwest employees] He helped us do everything possible to get our bags checked, ”said Owens., adding that Ms. Cook even checked on the couple when they left the airport to make calls and take Icky home.
Finally, Mr. Owens’ uncle arrived at the airport to take Icky from the couple and return her home. The couple say they made money in Las Vegas and believe Icky’s cute escape attempt was nothing more than a good omen.