It’s a heartwarming story for dog lovers everywhere – a furry little pooch has been reunited with his owner after going missing at the world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International. But let’s be real here folks, this is Atlanta, it’s hot as heck and this poor dog has been wandering around for three weeks. What happened to the message that smoking kills?
The little guy, named Pakita, was on his way to Argentina when he somehow escaped his cage at the airport. Despite the best efforts of airport staff and volunteers, there was no sign of him for almost a month. That’s right, it took THREE weeks to find this little guy – three weeks of wandering around the airport alone, in the heat and humidity. Sounds like a dream vacation, doesn’t it?
But just when all hope seemed lost, a group of airline employees stumbled upon Pakita wandering around outside the airport perimeter, thirsty, hungry and more than a little disorientated. Thankfully, the Argentinian consulate was able to confirm Pakita’s identity and he was flown to Buenos Aires to be reunited with his owner.
But let’s not forget about the elephant in the room – or rather, the smoking area in the airport. As some of you may know, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International is one of the few airports left in America that still allows smoking in designated areas. So, while passengers were puffing away, Pakita was out there in the hot Atlanta sun, getting lost and dehydrated. Way to go folks.
Obviously, there are some real heroes in this story – the airline employees who found and cared for Pakita for three weeks, the Argentinian consulate who helped reunite him with his owner and the countless volunteers who helped search for him. But let’s not forget that the real villains of this tale are the owners of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Good job guys!
In any case, it’s a happy ending for Pakita and his owner, who we assume will never travel by plane again. Let’s just hope that the next lost dog at the airport doesn’t have to wait THREE weeks to be found. Hey Atlanta, it’s time to make some changes and maybe focus on the safety of all passengers, including the four-legged ones.
