A missing dog miraculously returned to her family just in time for Christmas when she rang their doorbell.
The four-year-old German Shepherd and Husky mix named Athena had gone missing a week earlier from the family’s Green Cove Springs, Florida, home.
But incredibly, on Christmas Eve, the family’s video doorbell rang – and after inspecting who was at the door, they were shocked to see it was Athena ringing the doorbell in the middle of the night.
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Athena’s owner, Brooke Comer, was alerted to Athena’s escape by a neighbor who sent her a photo of the dog outside their house. But when Comer’s family rushed home, they found Athena’s collar in her crate and no apparent way she could have gotten out. How the clever pup managed her escape remains a mystery.
Speaking of her desperate bid to relocate Athena, Comer told AP: “She was the hide-and-seek all-time champion.”
The family’s search included putting up missing dog ads and responding to sightings reported by neighbors and people in nearby towns.
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But despite numerous leads and alerts, Athena stayed one step ahead, covering an estimated 20 miles during her adventure.
“With every sighting, my heart jumped,” Comer shared. “It honestly was excitement, and then your heart’s crushed because we were always one step behind.”
As Christmas Eve approached, the family began to lose hope. But then, at 2:30am Comer’s phone began buzzing with notifications from her Ring doorbell camera.
A quick glance revealed a familiar face – Athena jumping at the door and ringing the bell.
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Comer recalled: “I was kind of in a daze. As soon as I heard that ring, I looked at my phone and you could see in the video it was Athena.”
When Comer opened the door, Athena dashed inside, heading straight for her son, who was half-asleep on the couch.
The excited dog licked his face before grabbing her favorite ball to play and after a short reunion, Athena returned to her crate to rest.
The heartwarming reunion was made possible by the collective effort of the Green Cove Springs community. Comer expressed gratitude for the support and said the experience gave her hope.
Athena’s family plans to take additional precautions, including a full veterinary check-up, flea and tick treatments, and a microchip to prevent future escapes.