A 24-year-old New Jersey man was the traveler who left a dog tied up Dec. 29 at the Des Moines airport before a cross-country flight, the Animal Rescue League of Iowa said in a news release Tuesday.

A complaint by Des Moines police identified him as Charles Bigsen of Newark.

The ARL release said the man has surrendered the dog, which the staff has been calling Allie, to the agency. Once the 1-year-old dog is spayed and receives an identity microchip and other needed veterinary services, she will become available for adoption, according to the ARL, which has said it received dozens of offers to take her in since the story initially was reported.

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ARL animal services officers picked up Allie after investigating a call reporting a traveler had left the dog tied up outside the airport. Airline employees told them the dog's owner had been unable to bring the animal aboard a cross-country flight because he did not have a kennel for her.

They said the owner left the airport with the dog, then returned alone to board the flight. The dog was later found tied up outside the airport.

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The police complaint naming Bigsen says Allie, who the ARL staff described as "incredibly sweet," would have died had it not been for an airport employee who found her. She had been fastened to a post with a short leash, it said, "with no access to food, water or shelter."

"Mr. Bigsen then entered the airport and boarded a flight to Newark, New Jersey abandoning the dog at this location," it said. "During a subsequent conversation ... he advised investigators he provided no provisions for the dog and did not make arrangements for the dog to be retrieved. Additionally, he said he had no intentions to reclaim the dog.

"A witness (airport employee) covered the dog with a blanket and remained with the dog until police arrived," the complaint added.