EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (AP) -- It's the oldest excuse in the book, but this time it was absolutely true -- the dog did it.

Jon Meier was on the way to Peru with the rest of his Spanish class from Eau Claire North High School until the students got to Miami, where authorities rejected the 17-year-old's passport and wouldn't let him board the southbound aircraft.

The problem?

His family's 1-year-old golden retriever, Sunshine, had chewed part of a corner of the document, and officials said that was a "no go" for Meier, even though airlines officials in Chicago had said it was still OK.

Attempts to get another passport turned out to be impossible in the tight time frame. The 12-day class trip ended Monday.

Meier said there's no one he can blame for missing it, not even Sunshine. "I love her too much," he said.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)