Shelter Dog Left to Die by Owner Hasn't Given Up Hope of Happiness

A dog who was abandoned in the most sickening of circumstances hasn't given up on finding a home to call her own.

Athena first came into the care of the foster-based animal rescue the Mercy Full Project on April 24, having been rescued from almost-certain death at an apartment in Tampa, Florida.

Heydi Acuna, the founder of the Mercy Full Project, told Newsweek that the stricken pup was found locked in a bedroom closet with no food or water in sight. "Her owner obviously did not care for Athena at all and left her in that closet to die," Acuna said. "He had options and everyone has options to safely rehome an animal."

The impact of Athena's experience is clear to see. It has left her skeletal and in urgent need of not only regular meals but also just some love.

As Acuna puts it, there are still some people out there who "need to understand dogs are living creatures and deserve the same love and compassion a human deserves."

However, while Athena's treatment has left its mark physically, underneath all the pain and suffering she has endured, there is a happy-go-lucky dog who has already made a big impression on those she comes into contact with.

"She seems like quite a positive character," Acuna said. "We are a foster home-based animal rescue and, hours after she arrived at our facility, she was able to find a cozy foster home to be at, a quiet place to decompress and learn what love feels like."

Footage of Athena, still dangerously thin but happily wagging her tail and playing with other dogs, was uploaded to TikTok by her rescuers and provides the perfect example of her undiminished lust for life in the face of such adversity.

Studies have shown how a little love can go a long way with a shelter dog. A 2018 study published in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science found that just 15 minutes of one-on-one petting was enough to boost the well-being of a shelter dog.

That's what makes foster carers like the ones linked to the Mercy Full Project so special. They provide this kind of one-on-one care that not only helps shelter dogs like Athena to feel safe and secure but also provides their carers with a better understanding of a pup's personality.

Though it has only been a couple of weeks, Acuna said the rescue carers already have a good idea of what kind of dog Athena is. "She loves to eat, her bed and her bones. She enjoys sunbathing and laying around with her new foster friends," Acuna said.

Acuna hopes on one level that the videos of Athena serve as a wake-up call to anyone on the fence about getting a dog. "We would love to create awareness and to educate individuals to stop obtaining animals if they can't take care of them," she said.

Acuna also hopes the clip helps Athena find a new home, though she might already be well on her way to that. "Any home or owner taking Athena on would need experience with her breed. They would also need another dog and also tons of love to give. However, it's important to note that Athena's foster carer might yet end up adopting her."

It sounds like, after so much pain and fear, Athena has found the one thing she needs more than anything else: love.