Airline Worker Cares For LI Native's Fish After It's Barred From Plane

EAST ISLIP, NY — An East Islip High School alumni is making headlines after traveling home from college left her in a fishy situation.

As Kira Rumfola, 19, was going through airport security after her freshman year at the University of Tampa, when she was told she could not bring her pet fish, Theo, on the plane, the Washington Post reported.

"All of my roommates had already gone home for the summer and I had nobody to leave Theo with,” Rumfola told the Washington Post. “I was really sad and wondered what I was going to do. He’s my pet.”

When Southwest Airlines customer service agent Ismael Lazo noticed Theo and Rumfola's frustration, he made a split-second decision to offer his home and his fish-sitting services.

“How about if I take your fish home to live with me and my fiancee until you come back for college in the fall?” he said to The Washington Post.“You can text me over the summer to see how he’s doing whenever you like.”

Rumfola, relieved, agreed to Lazo's offer. The East Islip High School then returned home to Long Island for summer vacation.

For months, the two kept in touch, as Lazo sent updates on Theo's wellbeing.

Rumfola, returned to campus in late August, Business Insider said.

She happily reunited with Theo, and thanked Lazo and his fiancee with a store gift card and some candy.

“I’m really grateful that he stepped up to help,” she told the Washington Post about Lazo. “Four months is a long time, but Theo seems pretty happy.”

Patch has reached out to Rumfola and will update when we hear back.