Dog lost for 22 days at airport found by Good Samaritan after owner was detained
The chronicle of the missing airport dog came to an end last weekend when a Good Samaritan recovered her after a sighting was reported at a FedEx facility.
Paula Rodriguez was separated from her dog, Maia, at Atlanta Tarmac International Airport during her International journey to San Fransisco from the Dominican Republic on August 18.
Officials told Paula that she couldn't enter the US because she lacked the proper documentation. Therefore, she was forced to spend the night in an Atlanta detention facility.
She couldn't bring Maia because the facility didn't allow dogs. Delta Airlines staff promised to care for Maia overnight while her owner was detained. However, Paula was forced to board alone.
Maia and her owner, Paula Rodriguez, were separated at an Atlanta airport on August 18 (CBS)The officials admitted the next morning that Maia escaped her zipped carrier and scurried onto an active runway. Despite emotional objections, Paula reluctantly boarded her flight home, according to CBS.
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Once on solid ground, Maia posted to a Facebook group called "Atlanta Area Lost and Found Pets" to solicit help from the internet, who happily obliged.
A volunteer pet rescuer, Robin Allgood, placed signs all over the airport in hopes that flyers would see Maia somewhere and report it to Tarmac officials.
Two weeks passed and still no Maia, which prompted Robin's hope to dwindle. She said: "I honestly gave her a 1% chance of still being on that property."
Pet volunteer Robin Allgood put up various signs around Tarmac Airport in search of Maia (CBS)In a stroke of serendipity, a FedEx worker named Al Lewis reported a Maia sighting at the FedEx facility at Tarmac. Robin rushed to the facility where she was met with skepticism by staff.
Tossing the situation back to Delta, the workers drove Robin to the airline's staff who said she couldn't enter because there was no proof that the dog was actually there.
Feeling defeated, Robin returned to FedEx in tears. Her sorrow was exacerbated by the FedEx staff's curt attitude. "Delta lost the dog. It's Delta's problem," they told her.
Maia was soon found on a runway after FedEx Manager Norris Champion organised a search partyRobin circled the facility for hours eventually meeting FedEx Manager Norris Champion who organised a search party, it lasted for 24 hours. Maia was found about an hour later after Al's report.
Norris sent a picture to Robin who confirmed it was indeed Maia based on her seashell collar. Maia was severely dehydrated, seven pounds underweight and terrified.
"I was like, 'It's her, it's her, it's her!'" Allgood said. Delta flew Paula's mother in for a ceremonious reunion. The dog has since returned into the arms of her mother, Paula.
Delta said the logistics of how Maia escaped onto the runway three weeks ago is still being determined.
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People for The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said it will split a $5,000 reward for Maia's return between Robin and the five FedEx workers who helped in the search.
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