This Article is From Jun 30, 2009

Boy skips flight as dog eats passport

Eau Claire, Wisconsin:

A Wisconsin teenager used a classic excuse for evading schoolwork, but still missed a class trip to Peru despite his tale being true -- the dog ate his passport.

Officials at Chicago's O'Hare airport told 17-year-old Jon Meier the chewed-on document was fine, but authorities in Miami rejected it and wouldn't let him board the southbound aircraft.

His family's one-year-old golden retriever, Sunshine, chewed a corner of the document, obscuring some numbers. Meier couldn't get another passport in time to join the trip with his Spanish class from Eau Claire North High School. The 12-day trip ended Monday.

Meier says he can't blame anyone, not even Sunshine: "I love her too much."

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