Athena, a nine-year-old Terrier mix, has had a long and winding journey to find her forever home. Originally taken into a shelter in 2021, she arrived at ACS on September 8, 2022, in search of a fresh start. Just two months later, she was adopted, but after only two weeks, she was returned when she didn’t warm up to people quickly enough.

As we got to know Athena better, it became clear that her stranger reactivity was more severe than we initially thought. She struggled to connect with potential adopters, so in August 2023, we sent her to a training program in Texas to help her build confidence. But when she returned in October, she was more withdrawn than ever.

We knew Athena just needed the right people to see her. After sharing her story on Facebook, a compassionate couple was moved by her journey and came in to meet her. They visited every week for six weeks, patiently earning her trust. When they finally took her home as a foster, Athena instantly bonded with their youngest dog. After three weeks of careful adjustment and guidance from our trainer, they knew—Athena was home for good.

On December 7, 2024, after over two years of waiting, Athena’s adoption was finalized. Her story is a testament to the power of patience, compassion, and second chances.

Congratulations to Athena for finding her furever home!