Maia the Dog, Lost at the Airport, Found Alive After 3 Weeks
Update (September 10, 2023): Great news! We’re thrilled to hear that Maia the dog has been found after three long weeks and is on her way to being reunited with her family. We’ve sent the $5000 reward to the people who found her, along with a vegan gift basket to those who searched diligently for Maia over the past few weeks.
Originally posted on September 7, 2023:
Still Missing: Maia Allegedly Lost by Delta
Maia’s guardian, Paula Rodriguez, was reportedly flying from her home in the Dominican Republic for a two-week vacation in California with Maia on August 18, 2023. Upon arriving in Atlanta, an issue with Rodriguez’s tourist visa was reportedly found and customs agents explained that she would have to return home on the next flight.
According to a CNN report, Rodriguez was scheduled for a flight back to the Dominican Republic the following day and was informed that she would have to spend the night in a detention center without Maia. When Rodriguez arrived for her flight, it became apparent that Maia wasn’t there. The woman was moved to a flight leaving an hour later while Delta attempted to find her dog, but Maia couldn’t be located and Rodriguez had to board the flight to Punta Cana without her, as per U.S. law Rodriguez couldn’t stay without a visa for more than 24 hours. Since returning to the Dominican Republic, she has been working remotely to find her missing companion.
According to a Delta representative, Maia escaped from her carrier “while teams were transporting the pet in the operations area outside of terminal buildings.” The airline has reportedly been looking for the dog, and notices have been placed in the airport, at local animal shelters, and within the local community.
PETA Offers Reward to Help Find Maia
Wherever Maia is, we hope she’s safe and that someone will find her and return her to her guardian. We’re asking people to keep an eye out for her and to come forward with any information that might lead to her recovery so that she can get back to the people who care about her. Anyone who has seen Maia or knows where she may be is urged to contact PETA.
