Athena is a sweet German Shepherd dog that was rescued off the streets. 

Some construction workers noticed a very malnourished dog on their way to a construction site, and they immediately gave her some water and called the local rescue center in Southeast Texas. 

As soon as the Be Intentional dog rescue picked up this poor girl, they took her to the hospital since she was in pretty bad shape. 

This is her story from being rescued off the streets, learning an adorable trick to get noticed, and finally getting adopted. 

Athena, The Dreamer 

When the board members of the Be Intentional dog rescue met Athena, they said that she was one of the worst cases they had ever seen. 

Poor Athena was pretty much skin and bones, extremely malnourished and small for her age. They didn’t know exactly how long she had been neglected, but they believed it was a long time since she ate properly, had some medical care, or even had some love and attention. 

Christie Kasko, founder of Be Intentional, told The Dodo, “She had a harness that was way too small for her that was removed. She had every parasite in her system. She also has one of the worst cases of sarcoptic mange the vet has seen.”

After a couple of days, Athena warmed up a bit to volunteers and wanted nothing else but to snuggle with them. 

While she was being treated for her infections at the vet hospital, she learned a very cute trick. 

Little Athena would take her food bowl into her mouth and hold it every time one of the staff members at the hospital passed by. 

She figured out that if she did that, she would get noticed and probably get some more treats and love. 

And, she was completely right. 

No one could resist her sweet face and that puppy look, not after everything she had been through. 

“She gets lots of attention and plenty of food,” Kasko said. “But, she has figured out that holding her bowl with her cute little face tends to get her more cuddles.”

Once she was out of the hospital, Athena was transferred to Sauver Des Chiens German Shepherd Dog Rescue since they had more resources and experience with German Shepherds. 

Sauver Des Chiens found Athena the best possible foster. Athena’s official Facebook page said:

“She is with the best possible foster, one that has had medical experience, training, and grooming experience and has no other dogs. So she will be given full attention in a quiet home in the country. This is exactly the kind of place she needs to decompress and learn to love and trust again.”

“She still carries her bowl occasionally, but she is getting good nutrition now,” said Athena’s foster mom. There is a long road to recovery ahead of poor Athena. 

Athena (and her bowl) ended up as a foster fail, meaning that her foster family fell in love with her so much that they decided to adopt her. 

Patti Pulliam is Sauver Des Chiens’ volunteer and their training coordinator, and Athena couldn’t have ended up with a better furever family. 

And, yes, even after three years, she still carries her bowl everywhere with her. 

For more information about Athena and her adventures, please visit her official Facebook page.