A lost dog from Green Cove Springs, Florida, made its way back home on Christmas Eve after being missing for a week, surprising its family by ringing their doorbell.
Brooke Comer’s family faced every pet owner’s nightmare when their four-year-old German Shepherd and Husky mix, Athena, vanished from their Green Cove Springs home on December 15.
The day began like any other Sunday, with the family heading to church. But their peaceful morning turned into panic when a neighbor sent them a photo of Athena outside their house.
When they rushed back home, they found only Athena’s collar in her crate, with no sign of how she managed to escape.
The next week brought a mix of hope and disappointment as their community rallied together in search of Athena. People from Jacksonville and Saint Augustine joined the effort, sending photos and videos of possible sightings.
The search covered nearly 20 miles as Athena wandered through different neighborhoods. “She was the hide-and-seek all time grand champion,” Comer shared, describing their many near-misses. “With every sighting my heart jumped, and it honestly was excitement and then your heart’s crushed because we were always one step behind.”
The family’s concern grew each day, knowing Athena’s timid nature could put her at risk. Yet God had a plan for their reunion that would make it extra special.
At 2:30 AM on Christmas Eve, while the world slept waiting for Christmas morning, their Ring doorbell camera captured an amazing moment – Athena had found her way home and was clever enough to ring the bell herself.
Comer described the surreal moment: “I was kind of like in a daze, and the dog was barking, and as soon as I heard that ring, I looked at my phone and you could see in the video it was Athena and she was jumping at the door, ringing the doorbell.”
The joyful reunion woke up the whole family, but no one minded the early morning wake-up call. Athena bounded inside, first giving Comer’s son loving kisses, then grabbing her favorite ball as if she had never left, before settling into her crate for a well-deserved rest.
After the celebration, the family made plans for Athena’s care, including a complete veterinary check-up, flea and tick treatments, and most importantly, getting her microchipped to prevent future adventures.
WATCH: Missing Dog Returns Home and Rings Doorbell on Christmas Eve
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