....literally

Yesterday we were on N614 from PHX to PDX, my wife was sitting in one of the exit rows over the wings and she told me when we got to PDX (I had a last minute UG) that one of the seats was taken up be a REAL LIVE DOG. Not a little rat dog but a large animal without a cage or any other hinderance.
Now, we are both animal lovers but what the devil is going on here? Did this animals owner buy a seat? The spouse said that the animal was well behaved but what about the passenger on the next routing for this plane? I mean the dog is just sitting there grinding there uncovered hind quarters on the seat for a couple of hours. If any of us did that the US Marshalls would greet us at the gate and haul us away....

Somebody got some 'esplanin' to do!