In this video still shared by Brooke Comer, Athena is seen approaching the doorbell at Comer's home in Green Cove Springs, Florida, on Christmas Eve. AP Photo
After nearly a week of anxious searching, Athena, a four-year-old German Shepherd and Husky mix, made a heartwarming return to her Florida family just in time for Christmas Eve, and she even rang the doorbell to announce her arrival.
Athena went missing on December 15 in Green Cove Springs, Florida, when her family, led by owner Brooke Comer, had left for church. The panic started when Comer received a message from a neighbor showing a picture of Athena outside the house. Upon rushing home, Comer found Athena's collar in the crate but couldn’t figure out how she had managed to escape, as there was no obvious opening. The mystery of how she got out remained unsolved.
What followed was a week of relentless searching. Comer received constant updates from neighbors and other members of the community, each alert showing Athena in different areas, making it clear that the dog had wandered far. It seemed that Athena had traveled over 32 kilometers during her time away. Despite the efforts of Comer and her family to quickly respond to each tip, they were always just one step behind, unable to find Athena.
"I was always running to the spots where we had seen her, but I never got to her," Comer said. "She was the hide-and-seek all-time grand champion." The emotional toll of this chase was immense for Comer, who was constantly worried about where her skittish dog could be or what dangers she might have encountered.
Then, just before 2:30 a.m. on Christmas Eve, a miracle happened. Comer received a notification from her Ring doorbell. Her other dog was barking, and when she checked her phone, she saw an unbelievable sight—Athena, jumping at the door and ringing the bell. "I was kind of in a daze, but as soon as I saw it was Athena, I knew," Comer recalled, still amazed by the turn of events.
With a burst of energy, Athena ran into the house, went straight to the couch to greet Comer’s son with affectionate licks, and then grabbed her favorite ball to play before heading to her cage to sleep. The joyful reunion was nothing short of a Christmas miracle, bringing immense relief to the whole family.
Comer expressed her gratitude for the support of the community, whose efforts played a crucial role in bringing Athena home. "The hope from our neighbors and the community made all the difference during the terrifying week," she said. As for Athena, her next stop is a full health checkup, along with flea and tick treatments and a microchip for added safety.
