Maia was supposed to stay at a Delta pet facility while she spent the night in an airport detention facility, airline officials said. And they were to meet again by the first flight back home the next day.
That was the last time she saw Maia.
Rodriguez said two days after returning home without the dog, Delta officials said Maia had broken her carrier in the middle of the runway on the night of August 18 while en route to a pet facility. Rodriguez said her airline employees chased her, but Maia fled into a restricted area at her airport.
“This happened on Friday and we found out on Monday,” Rodriguez, 25, said. “When I got on that plane, they knew my dog was lost, but they didn’t tell me.”
More than a week later, airline officials and local authorities are still searching for Maia at the world’s busiest airport. Delta flew Rodriguez’s mother to Atlanta to help find his missing pet, bringing some of Rodriguez’s clothing to instill a nostalgic scent and a recording of Rodriguez calling animals, Rodriguez said. told the Washington Post in Spanish.
Delta spokeswoman Morgan Durant said in an email: “Delta’s team is working around the clock to find this pet and reunite it with the customer, and is contacting the customer to provide updates. I keep taking it,” he said. “Delta personnel are deeply concerned about our customers and the dog, and are working closely with the Atlanta City Aviation Authority and other stakeholders in an ongoing search effort.”
Airport officials are aware of Maia’s whereabouts, and an airport spokeswoman said, “We will remain vigilant if she shows up,” while the operations team conducts inspections of the runway and airfield throughout the day. Andrew C. Gobeil, who is in charge, said.
“If she is found, ATL staff will attempt to seize her and return her to the airline and owner,” Gobeir said in an email.
Maia came into Rodriguez’s life in 2017. Found Maia in the box the streets of The Dominican Republic before Hurricane Maria passed through the island. Her plan was to protect her until the storm passed and take her to her animal rescue after her, but Maia won Rodriguez’s heart. Since then, the two have become inseparable. Rodriguez never had to take the lead, she said.They love exploring, nature, hiking, and even Rodriguez said you can even surf if the waves aren’t too high.
On August 18, Rodriguez and Maia boarded a Delta flight from Santo Domingo to Atlanta, a layover before their final destination in California. Rodriguez wanted Maia, who had never flown before, to accompany him on a trip to California to visit his friends. Rodriguez said she paid Delta Air Lines for her emotional support dog, Maia, to accompany him in a soft carrier under the seat in front of her.
When he landed in Atlanta, Rodriguez said customs officials told him he got the wrong type of visa. Rodriguez said Maia had to stay away from Rodriguez while she was in jail, but Delta officials assured Maia that she was safe in the pet facility. There, we were given water and food until our flight back home the next day.
On the morning of Aug. 19, Rodriguez grew increasingly concerned after repeated calls from Delta agents at the gate failed to find Maia. Rodriguez said she missed her first flight but agreed to take the next flight if Delta had another hour to find Maia.
“Don’t worry,” said Rodriguez, who recalled being told by a Delta agent at the gate. “We are looking for your dog in various departments.
when she arrived in the Dominican Republic After not hearing about Maia, Rodriguez called the airline and filed a missing person’s report for the pet. Rodriguez said he spent two days on the phone with airline representatives and struggled to get updates. Since then, she has hired pet rescue specialists and urged airlines to use food traps and K-9 dogs in their searches.
“I’m not going to rest until I find her,” Rodriguez said. “They could do better. They were able to hide the fact that my dog had been missing for over 48 hours and how it got lost. It’s just inhumane. is.”
