ATLANTA, GA — A national animals rights advocacy group is offering a reward of up to $5,000 after a woman who was briefly detained at the Atlanta airport recently claimed Delta Air Lines lost her dog.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, is offering the reward to assist Paula Rodriguez with finding her dog, Maia. Rodriguez is offering a $1,000 reward, PETA said.
CNN previously reported Maia was lost at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport while Rodriguez was temporarily detained on Aug. 18 due to an issue with her tourist visa. Rodriguez was traveling from the Dominican Republic to California and had stopped in Atlanta for a layover. Maia reportedly broke out of her kennel, where she was held during Rodriguez’s detainment, and Maia has not yet been located.
According to PETA, Maia is a black Chihuahua mixed breed.
“We are asking everyone to look hard for Maia, who may be hiding, so that she can go home to the people who love her and to provide any information that could lead to her recovery,” PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said in a news release.
PETA sent Hartsfield a letter Wednesday afternoon, notifying airport officials of the reward. Patch has obtained a copy of the letter.
The organization said the reward is being offered for information leading to Maia’s recovery.
“Wherever this dog is, we hope she’s safe and that someone will find and return her. We’re asking
everyone to keep an eye out for her so that she can get back to the people who care about her and
to come forward with any information that might lead to her recovery,” PETA wrote in the letter.
A GoFundMe with a goal of $15,000 has been started by Rodriguez’s sister, PETA said. According to the fundraiser, money gathered would benefit the use of search dog services, animal communicator services, reward flyers, surveillance services, professional pet detectives and legal consultation.
As of early Friday afternoon, more than $6,400 had been raised.
“This is a time for humans, strangers, to come together against all odds of a multi-billion dollar airline not claiming responsibility for their actions. We need to take action,” organizers wrote on the GoFundMe.
The fundraiser claimed Rodriguez has been hospitalized multiple times due to emotional trauma after losing Maia.
Hartsfield sent a past statement to media, saying Maia would be returned to Rodriguez should she appear.
PETA asked anyone with information regarding Maia’s whereabouts to call (757) 622-7382.