In a distressing turn of events, a woman’s voyage to San Francisco turned into a nightmare when she received the disconcerting news that her cherished dog had escaped its kennel during her detainment by US Customs agents. The situation has left both owner and pet in a state of anxiety, with concerns about the dog’s wellbeing looming large.
Paula Rodriguez, deeply bonded with her faithful companion Maia, had been inseparable since rescuing the dog from the streets and nurturing her from puppyhood. Determined to include Maia in her journey to San Francisco, Paula embarked on the long trip from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, only to have her optimism unravel within a mere 24 hours.
According to reports from Atlanta News First, officials from the US Customs and Border Protection stationed at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport conveyed to Paula that she did not fulfill the stipulated requirements for entering the United States. Consequently, Paula found herself confined to a detention center overnight and subsequently compelled to return to Santo Domingo the following morning. However, her reunion with Maia was not meant to be.
With a heavy heart, Paula prepared to board her return flight, a decision fraught with heartache due to the conspicuous absence of her beloved canine companion. She recounted, “I was like, ‘I’m sorry, I can’t get on this plane, I don’t know where my dog is,'” Paula disclosed to Atlanta News First. “I was crying, I had panic attacks on the plane, I had to get on the plane because the US Border Control told me, ‘Hey, we can’t have you here by law in this airport for more than 24 hours.'”
Reluctantly, Paula left without Maia. Upon her arrival in Santo Domingo, she was greeted with a lack of updates concerning Maia’s whereabouts from Delta Airlines. As Paula recounted, “I started making calls, I started making claims, nobody knew where she was.” Approximately two days later, a Delta representative contacted Paula to convey the unfortunate news that Maia had managed to escape her enclosure on the very night they were separated, and regrettably, Maia remains missing. The Delta representative’s call marked the final communication Paula received from the airline, leading her to turn to the power of social media for hope.
Fueled by desperation and a desire to locate her lost companion, Paula shared a heartfelt video on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), narrating the anxiety-ridden journey she and Maia experienced, including the distressing detail of Maia vomiting during the flight. In the video, Paula emphasized Maia’s role as an emotional support animal and mentioned the assurances she received from an agent to take care of the dog. The video has since garnered approximately 7,000 views, signaling the collective empathy and support for this heartrending ordeal.
