Man, 24, faces animal neglect charges after he left his dog, Stella, tied up at

A man is facing animal abandonment and neglect charges after he left his adorable dog tied up at an airport in Iowa while he caught a flight to New Jersey.

Bigsen Charles, 24, claims that he didn’t know he needed a kennel to transport his puppy on the plane – so decided to tie the pup up outside the airport and make his journey alone instead.  

Stella the puppy was abandoned outside Des Moines Iowa Airport on Thursday morning after Charles paid for the dog’s fare and assumed that was all he need to before he boarded his flight heading to Newark. 

He told DailyMail.com: ‘I already checked in and didn’t want to miss my flight. I thought if I paid for the dog on the plane they would give her a kennel. I didn’t know I had to bring my own.’

Stella will now get a new home after being left at the airport by Bigsen Charles, 24

Stella is being looked after by animal caretakers after being found tied up outside an airport in Iowa. Her owner Bigsen Charles, 24, now faces animal neglect and abandonment charges for leaving the adorable pup on her own while he got on a flight 

The outside of Des Moines airport in Iowa where Stella was tied up and left on Thursday morning after her owner rushed to catch a flight to Newark, New Jersey 

Charles said he asked the driver who took him to the airport to pick up his dog and he would pay him double – but the driver was unable to. He then asked people at the airport if he could leave his pup inside. 

When he wasn’t able to make any progress, Charles said he tied his dog up and left her outside. He said he hoped maybe one of his friends could help him with the dog to eventually pick her up, but he wasn’t able to reach them.

‘I was crying when I left her because I didn’t want to leave her. I bought the dog for my daughter,’ he said. ‘I knew someone would end up taking her.’

When airport officials saw the abandoned dog they immediately contacted Animal Rescue League of Iowa, who sent an animal control officer to retrieve the puppy.

Stella giving Carley, one of the animal caretakers at Animal Rescue League of Iowa, a big hug

Tina Updegrove told DailyMail.com exclusively that she had been trying to contact the owner since Thursday and when she first saw the dog. Airport staff gave her a blanket until she was able to take the puppy to the shelter.

‘During the drive from the airport to the shelter, she warmed up to me. Her tail was wagging and she was smiling. She is quite fantastic. Such a sweetheart,’ Updegrove said.  

Charles said his girlfriend had booked his flight online from Iowa back to New Jersey on Allegiant airlines. She had also paid the $50 fare for the dog to fly, but was not aware of everything else that was required of him before boarding.

He also said said that he had not yet told his girlfriend what had happened to Stella since he has been back home in New Jersey.

Tina Updegrove told DailyMail.com exclusively that she had been trying to contact the dog’s owner since Thursday. She said the airport staff gave had given her a blanket and plenty of love until she was able to take the puppy to the shelter

‘Everyday she asks for it. She didn’t know I left her at the…