What happened to Paula Rodriguez is probably every pet parent’s worst nightmare. She was on her way to California from her hometown in the Dominican Republic for a two-week vacation via Delta Air Lines. Her dog Maia, who is six years old, was travelling along with her. However, when she arrived at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, also commonly known as the Atlanta Airport, things took a turn for the worse. Not only did her vacation get cut short abruptly, but she also ended up losing her furry best friend.
Delta Air Lines Loses Passenger’s Dog
According to an article recently published by CNN, she arrived at the Atlanta airport around 6:55 PM on the 18th of August. She was then told by the border force staff that she failed to meet the tourist Visa requirements and it was consequently cancelled.
This means that her vacation plans went down the drain. But the worst was yet to come. The next flight wasn’t until the following day so she had to spend the night at a detention centre where she wasn’t allowed to take her dog.
An agent from Delta took Maia from Paula and assured her that she’d be handled by trained professionals and that she would see her again tomorrow. But alas, that was not to be. It turned out that as they were transporting her, she managed to escape.
Search For The Dog Underway
When Paula arrived at the gate the next morning, she learned that the airline couldn’t locate her dog. She had to miss the flight and take the next one hoping Maia would be found in time. Again, she was disappointed. They failed to find Maia and, since people without visas cannot stay in the country for more than 24 hours, was forced to board the next plane without her dog.
Since then, she has been following up with the airlines as well as shelters around Atlanta but Maia hasn’t been spotted. Paula thinks that she might be scared and must be hiding somewhere in the airport, which is considered the busiest in the world.
Also Read: Delta Flight With 96 Passengers Makes Emergency Landing In North Carolina As Nose Gear Breaks
Would you ever consider travelling with your pet after this tragic incident? Let us know in the comments below!
Cover Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons