Three weeks after going missing, a pet dog was found safe at the busy airport in Atlanta.
According to the airline and an online fundraising campaign for Rodriguez, Maia, a 6-year-old dog, went lost after traveling with her owner Paula Rodriguez on a Delta Airlines flight on August 18 from the Dominican Republic to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Rodriguez was refused entrance into the country, and while under Delta’s care, Maia escaped from her kennel, causing the owner and cherished pet to become separated, the airline claimed.
The airport reported on social media on Sunday that Maia had been located three agonizing weeks after she was discovered hiding near the North Cargo Facilities on Saturday.
She was taken to a vet and is anticipated to return home soon, according to the airport, who added that she was “tired but in apparent good health.”
Maia, the dog who escaped onto the airfield at the world’s busiest airport, was recovered on September 9. ATL’s Operations team found her hiding near the North Cargo facilities. Tired but in apparent good health, she was transported to a vet and is expected to return home soon. pic.twitter.com/eNbM6us1BW
— Atlanta Airport (@ATLairport) September 10, 2023
After the incident, Rodriguez’s family started a fundraising campaign to help with the frantic hunt for Maia, garnering over $6,000 in total. The hashtag #whereismaia also started trending on social media.
When Rodriguez went to Atlanta for a layover en way to California, there was a problem with her visa, according to Atlanta’s NBC affiliate WXIA.
According to Delta, Rodriguez brought Maia with her as a pet on the flight to the United States. However, Rodriguez was not permitted to be with her pet while she was waiting for a trip home because U.S. Customs and Border Protection had refused her admission into the country.
Rodriguez told The Washington Post that Maia was staying at a Delta pet facility while she was held overnight at an airport detention center, with plans to be reunited for their journey home the following morning.
While being transported by teams in the operations area outside of the terminal buildings, the dog “escaped its container. Prior to the customer’s CBP-mandated return trip, the pet would have been given back to her, according to Delta.
The airline claimed it started aggressive 24-hour visual searches of the airfield right away, including night searches using night-vision goggles, and informed staff, airport staff, adjacent animal shelters, and veterinary officers to keep an eye out for the missing pet.
According to Delta, the mother of Rodriguez, who traveled to Atlanta to assist in the search for Maia, was also housed there.
In a fundraising campaign on the internet, Rodriguez’ sister claimed that Rodriguez and Maia had a “unbreakable bond.”
She stated, “Maia and Pula go anywhere together, which is probably why Maia broke through her kennel bag while they were separated, Maia was required to get back to Paula, particularly following a very stressful travel.”
“My sister is unable to eat, has regular panic episodes, and is unable to sleep as a result of this terrible circumstance. I do not want her to deteriorate further,” she continued.
Paula left a statement for the attendees of the event that read, “Maia is my whole heart because I KNOW she is out there someplace yearning for her mom. To aid in our search efforts and help us get closer to finding my son, I need your assistance. The help you have given me is invaluable as I navigate this emotional road. I’m grateful.
News about Maia’s findings has not been added to the fundraising.
In a statement released on Monday, Delta said, “We are grateful for the teamwork that has contributed to our customer’s dog’s recovery. Delta is striving to get the dog back to the owner as quickly as possible.
The air carrier saw that Maia seemed to be in good health.
On Sunday, Rodriguez posted an Instagram story with the caption, “Maiaaaaa is coming homeeee!”