21 year-old Belen Aldecosea says she just wanted to travel with her dwarf hamster "Pebbles." Aldecosea told the Miami Herald that the airline made her flush the animal because they would not allow her to bring it on the plane and she had no options. The student told the paper she had previously contacted the airline about the animal and was told there would be no problem flying with the rodent.

The airline denies it told Aldecosea to flush Pebbles down the toilet. The student says she is considering a lawsuit against the airline. "Emotional support animals" have been a hot topic recently as airlines have moved to further restrict which animals can be brought onto flights.