A COUPLE were left baffled after being told their baggage was hugely overweight at the airport - only to find their pet chihuahua inside.
Jared and Kristi Owens were travelling from Texas to Las Vegas last month when airport staff said their cases were too heavy.
Jared told local media : "They put it on the scale and this bag is basically like five, five and a half pounds overweight.
"Really quickly we are like, 'Oh, we have got to rearrange some stuff'."
However, after opening it, they were stunned to see their pet dog Icky who had somehow climbed into the bag without them realising.
They spotted her hiding in one of their cowboy boots.
Jared continued: "Opens it up and literally, there's our dog coming out of my boot, coming out of my boot with her head bopping up."
He said Icky is often found sneaking into places: "She burrows in clothes, she burrows in, obviously suitcases now."
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Thankfully, Southwest Airline staff came to the rescue - offering to look after the dog while they flew.
Jared said: "They could have turned us in saying we were trying to smuggle a dog to Vegas or something.
"Never acted like that, they were extremely gracious. She was willing to watch our dog for us while we were gone.
"Thank goodness we found this dog because you would have gotten to Vegas and you probably would have had a deceased animal in your bag."
Icky was returned to the couple when they arrived home in Texas.
It isn't the first shock travellers have had when opening their suitcases.
Back in 2019, two British lads were left in hysterics after they picked up what they thought was their suitcase - only to find it full of women's clothes.