🐾
Character
Sweet, Shy, Affectionate
💥
Energy Level
Medium
🐈
Good with cats?
Can be tested
🐕
Good with other dogs?
Yes
👶
Good with children?
Can be tested
👽
Around (new) people
Friendly, shy
What Makes Me Me
Athena is a beauty to look at!
Story
Athena was born on the streets and grew up as a stray. Although she didn't have a home, she did have someone who she considered her family: local rescuer Beray. Beray kept Athena as safe as possible as she grew up, and fed her every day. However, as she got bigger, local residents became more uncomfortable with her presence on the streets. They started making serious threats towards Athena, and one man even threatened to shoot her. Desperate to keep her safe, Beray asked us for help.
Shortly after bringing Athena to safety, Beray herself became the victim of a horrific act of violence. She was lured to a field under the false pretence that abandoned puppies needed rescuing. Instead, she was brutally attacked and strangled, and was left for dead. Miraculously, she survived because her attacker believed she had already died. Beray somehow regained conscience and was rushed to hospital with severe injuries, where she slowly recovered.
Beray's story is sadly not an isolated incident. Across many parts of Turkey, hostility towards stray animals has intensified in recent years. People who dedicate their lives to feeding, protecting and rescuing street dogs are increasingly facing intimidation, threats and even physical violence simply for showing compassion.
The story of Athena and Beray shows just how dangerous life is becoming for both strays and the people who try to help them in Turkey.
Character
Athena is a sweet, calm and slightly shy girl. She is an absolute sweetheart to look at and have by your side.
Athena is the kind of dog who likes to take her time and see how things go. She is gentle and careful, and tends to keep to herself until she feels comfortable. Once she settles in, she becomes a little more relaxed, but she is never overly excitable.
She loves people and is friendly towards everyone, although she can be a little shy at first. Athena is gentle, well-behaved and eager to please. She enjoys being close to you and having contact, but she will never demand your attention.
When Athena first arrived at the shelter, she would hide away in a corner. But her little tail gave her away! Every time she saw us, it would wag nervously but hopefully. She wanted so badly to connect with us, while finding it all a little overwhelming at the same time.
By now, she has grown comfortable around us and has even become one of the dogs who greets us most enthusiastically every day. Having her nearby is such a lovely way to start the morning. No cup of coffee can compete with that!
Behaviour With People
Athena is very sweet with people and enjoys being around them. She may need a little time to feel comfortable, but once she gets to know you, she shows just how much she enjoys your company. She is a gentle soul who would never push herself on anyone, but quietly appreciates every bit of attention and affection.
Meeting unfamiliar dogs is a little more difficult for Athena. She finds these encounters exciting in a way that makes her feel unsure, so she prefers to avoid contact. This is generally how she deals with things she finds scary: she looks away or simply walks off. Her motto seems to be, "If I can't see it, it isn't there!" She never seeks confrontation and would much rather keep her distance from anything or anyone she finds intimidating.
Once she gets used to other dogs, she seems perfectly happy to tolerate them. However, the busy shelter environment is quite stressful for her, making it difficult to take that next step and build friendships. It's as though she just can't quite bring herself to cross that final little hurdle.
We know that Athena used to get along with other stray dogs when she was living on the streets, so we believe she is capable of making doggy friends. She simply needs to feel safe and comfortable first.
Outside the shelter, Athena is still a little uncertain. She walks nicely on the leash but doesn't tend to take the lead. She is quite happy to let other dogs walk ahead while she follows along behind. She is very well-behaved and goes along with what is expected of her, although you can still tell that she hasn't quite found her confidence yet.
Ideal Home
Athena is looking for a loving home where she can take things at her own pace and grow in confidence. She would benefit from patient adopters who understand that she may need some time and gentle encouragement to feel completely at ease in her new surroundings.
She doesn't need a busy household or a life full of exciting adventures. What she needs most is a safe place to call home, kind people by her side and the reassurance that she doesn't have to face everything on her own.
With the right guidance, we believe Athena will grow into a wonderful family dog who shares a beautiful bond with her people. She has so much love to give, and once she feels safe enough to show it, that bond will be something truly special.
Who has a lovely, warm bed waiting for our sweet Athena?
Every Melez Dog Comes Prepared
The dogs arrive in their homes microchipped, up to date on their Rabies and Mixed vaccinations, spayed/neutered, dewormed and deflead and tested for Heartworm, Ehrlichia, Leishmania and Anaplasma. The dogs visit the vets for a final health check before they travel. If needed, their teeth are cleaned and X-Rays are taken of any potential areas of concern. Any concerns or potential health issues we are aware of will be communicated with you beforehand.
