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TSA finds dog in backpack after it was 'accidentally' sent through X-ray scanner at Wisconsin airport

The Great Lakes TSA Department tweeted the incident

MADISON, WISCONSIN: The Transportation Security Administration warned travelers to check their carry-on luggage for pets after a little puppy was inadvertently passed through the X-ray machine at Wisconsin's Dane County Regional Airport. This led the TSA officials at Great Lakes to sound a warning and request that travelers with an animal notify the airline to know the rules.

The TSA's Great Lakes division tweeted, "When traveling with any animal, notify your airline and know their rules. "At the checkpoint, remove your pet from the bag and send all items, including the empty carrier, to be screened in the machine." The X-ray image showed the small dog lying down in the rucksack, which was pictured in a grey security tray.

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In the tweet thread, the TSA Great Lakes shared a video demonstrating how to get through the security check with the animal, "Here’s the proper way to travel with your pet. Note: This is a @TSA PreCheck passenger traveling with a cat. If you think your pet will attempt an escape, ask to speak with a supervisor before removing the animal. Alternative screening options may be available."

Even though the story may seem weird, it is not the first time that TSA personnel have discovered an animal inside a travel bag. A live cat was spotted last month by security personnel at John F Kennedy International Airport in New York City. It was "implied," according to TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein, that the cat saw the open luggage and entered without the traveler noticing, as per NBC. In 2015, they reunited a chihuahua with its owner after officers found the dog inside a checked suitcase. In that case, the owner had "no idea" the dog had climbed in, with the agency saying she "was shocked when we told her we had her dog".

TSA spokesperson Jessica Mayle reportedly said that the passenger was "unaware" of the screening protocol required for animals and did not tell TSA officers. She confirmed the dog, a dachshund chihuahua mix, was unharmed when it came out of the machine on Sunday, "just a little skittish". According to the TSA website, animals should never be put through an X-ray tunnel.