Survivor Mama Dog Has Been at a Kentucky Shelter for Six Months & Needs a Christmas Miracle

Meet Athena. Athena has been at the Daviess County Animal Care and Control longer than any other dog at the facility. For the last four months she has been there- waiting, hoping that someone will fall in love with her and give her a forever home. And what’s not to fall in love with?  This dog is a warrior. Her story is that of a survivor. Athena’s a mom who fought all the odds to give birth to seven puppies, feed and care for them and, all the while, fight back from the brink of death. This is Athena’s story.

Athena was dropped off at the Daviess County Animal Care and Control. In the words of shelter volunteer Kristi Harrison, she was “dropped off like she was trash.” At the time, Athena was emaciated.

She was riddled with worms, had hair loss and was in no shape to be nursing even puppies. But she did it.

And, look! There’s no doubt that the situation was dire. Because she was so personally starved, Athena’s puppies, once they were weened, had to be removed from her custody. Her constant hunger and need for food led Athena to develop some pretty serious food aggression. Though she didn’t want to be, she was a danger to her puppies.

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But, that was then. This is now. Athena’s puppies have all found their forever homes, thanks to It Takes a Village, a partner shelter in Evansville. Athena has spent the time since their departure regaining her strength and spirit. And she has! Look at Athena now!

Kristi says that she and her friends at the shelter have made it their mission to find Athena a home for the holidays.  She's friendly, loves to nuzzle, keeps a tidy kennel, rides great in the car and recently walked the entire length of the Owensboro-Daviess County Christmas Parade.

If you'd like to apply to adopt Athena, you can CLICK HERE! By the way, she has been sponsored, so her $100 adoption fee has already been covered.

It's recommended that the family that adopts Athena feed her separately from other dogs. If your application is approved and you currently have another dog, Daviess County Animal Care and Control requires that you bring that dog to the shelter for a meet and greet with Athena to make certain they get along.

Also, if you live in Daviess County, KY, Athena is eligible for the Dog's Day Out program that allows you to 'check out' a shelter dog during business hours to see how they do at your home.

Daviess County Animal Care and Control is located at 2620 Highway 81.