A US woman’s frantic yet humorous reaction after her dog tore her passport just hours before an international flight has gone viral on social media, striking a chord with travellers worldwide.
The woman, Karina, shared the video on Instagram, showing herself holding the shredded passport while switching between disbelief, exhaustion and humour. The culprit was her dog, Kanela, who appeared completely unbothered by the chaos she had caused.
‘My dog ate my passport’
In the video, Karina explains that her bags were packed and her flight was scheduled for the same day when she discovered the damage. “I have a flight today. Bags are packed. And this is what my dog decided to do,” she says, holding up the torn document.
Karina, who works as a teacher, joked about finally understanding her students’ classic excuse. “My dog ate my homework. They might have been telling the truth,” she said, prompting laughter from viewers.
She added that Kanela looked happy and innocent throughout the incident, wagging her tail even after destroying the passport.
Backup passport saves the day
What prevented the situation from turning into a complete travel disaster was the fact that Karina had a backup passport. “She’s a smart dog,” Karina joked in the clip, adding that things could have been far worse without it.
However, she clarified in her caption that even having a second passport does not eliminate the problem. A damaged passport must still be officially reported, she warned, noting that authorities take document integrity seriously.
More than just a travel document
Karina revealed that the destroyed passport carried deep emotional value. It contained stamps and visas from different phases of her life abroad, including her first visa when she moved to China, as well as stamps from Greece, Myanmar and South Korea.
“That’s why I’m still sad about this one. It’s so many memories,” she said.
In a playful moment towards the end of the video, Karina asks Kanela if she has anything to say. The dog places her paw on the torn passport, prompting Karina to joke that she might “do it again”.
Internet reacts with humour
The video resonated strongly online, with users sharing similar last-minute travel nightmares. Comments ranged from practical advice to pure comedy. “You owe all the kids back A’s,” one user joked, while another wrote, “Your dog said: YOU AIN’T GOING NOWHERE.”
Karina ended her post with a piece of hard-earned advice: keep important documents secured — and away from curious pets.