A student from Florida had to go through a torturous moment when she was asked to flush down her hamster by Spirit Airlines, as she claims. Belen Aldecosea before flying home from her college in Baltimore had called the airlines twice to confirm if she could carry her pet hamster on the flight. But on arriving at the airport, the airlines refused to get him on board. Peebles, her hamster was just not allowed on the flight and with her family in Florida and friends, hours away, the hamster had to get rid off.

The student informed Miami Herald that the airline employee suggested to flush her hamster down the toilet or let him free. The 21-year old was scared and did not even have any other option, so she had to take the traumatic decision. She even thought of renting a car till home but that too was not possible. "She was scared. I was scared. It was horrifying trying to put her in the toilet," Aldecosea said. "I was emotional. I was crying. I sat there for a good 10 minutes crying in the stall."

The Spirit airlines have confirmed that the information was wrongly given to the girl about allowing Pebbles on the flight. "Our reservation representative, unfortunately, did misinform the guest that a hamster was permitted to fly as an emotional support animal on Spirit Airlines," spokesman Dombrowski wrote in an email. However, he denied that it was an employee’s suggestion to flush down the animal. Pebbles was in a small cage that fit in the regulations of carry-on luggage. But it was not even allowed in cargo. She even had the necessary doctor’s letters to certify that Pebbles was safe.

Aldecosea is now planning to sue the airlines for pressuring her so much that she had to take such a decision. This is not the first time pets onboard flights have become a problem. In January, a woman was denied carrying her peacock on flight by United Airlines. When she shared the incident on social media, it had become viral. Aldecosea’s lawyer Goodman stated, "This wasn’t a giant peacock that could pose a danger to other passengers. This was a tiny cute harmless hamster that could fit in the palm of her hand.” According to the latest reports, the girl has a replacement rodent but is still finding it difficult to cope up.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 09, 2018 12:24 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).