Callum Jones
An airline has offered a woman $1,800 after they lost her beloved dog in one of the biggest airports in the US.
Paula Rodriguez has said she is currently 'living a nightmare' after airport staff lost her beloved dog Maia.
Rodriguez was flying from her home in the Dominican Republic to California for a two-week holiday on 18 August.
The journey did not involve a direct flight though, as Rodriguez was forced to change flights at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, one of the World's biggest and busiest airports, before continuing her journey to San Francisco.
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But after arriving in Atlanta, Rodriguez was told she 'didn’t meet the requirements' of her tourist visa, subsequently being told she'd have to take the next flight home.
What staff didn't realise was that the next flight was the following day - meaning Rodriguez spent the night in a detention centre without Maia.
When it came to boarding the following morning, Rodriguez was told that Maia was nowhere to be seen, leaving her in a state of panic after she was forced to fly back to the Dominican Republic without her pup.
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"Everyone who knows me knows what she means to me," Rodriguez told CNN.
"I don’t go anywhere without her. She’s so well-behaved that I take her to restaurants, literally everywhere.
“She’s my partner in everything.”
The devastated owner believes her dog escaped her pink travel crate while she was being questioned by border patrol officers.
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Maia is microchipped, with Rodriguez and airline Delta saying every animal shelter and veterinary surgeon in the county has been notified, making many think she may be still in the airport.
It has now been more than two weeks since Maia went missing, with Delta offering Rodriguez $1,800 as they insist they 'have shown empathy through many actions, gestures and communications with our customer.'
The airline also says the money is not an 'offer of compensation'.
However, CBS correspondent David Begnaud has said that he feels Delta's efforts in finding the dog have fallen short.
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"If you’re flying in and out of Atlanta — this might sound silly, but keep an eye out for this dog," the journalist urged in a TikTok report.
"She could have gotten out, so if you live in Atlanta, if you live anywhere near the airport, please have an eye out for this dog."
Begnaud went on to report that airline crews at Atlanta are still looking for Maia, with Rodriguez being encouraged to reach out to Delta’s lawyers regarding the ongoing investigation.
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Daniela Rodriguez, Paula’s sister, has set up a GoFundMe that reads: “Now, we are forced to take matters into our own hands. This horrific situation has left my sister sleepless, with constant panic attacks and no appetite. I do not want her to get worse. That is why we have resorted to the thousands of people who have [shown] us their support since the story came out in the news. Maia and Paula need hope, we all do. Hope that they will be together again.”
UNILAD has reached out to Delta Air Lines for comment.