Family's 3-Legged Dog Goes Missing, Then They Get A Distressing Message
Having a runaway animal is one of the worst gut-punches a pet owner can suffer, but most people still clutch to that sliver of hope that they'll fall into the small percentage of people who find their furry friends. Sadly, the reality is most people never get answers about where their pets disappear to. But for one Missouri man, his lost dog story unfolded in a way that was anything but typical.
Goes Missing
In February 2020, right before the COVID-19 pandemic locked down the world, Dylan Summers suffered an incredible loss. When the Bourbon, Missouri, resident went out in his backyard to call his dog Athena, she didn't come running with her tail wagging as usual. Instead, she was nowhere to be found.
Easily Identified
Panic set in. Dylan scoured the yard looking for her and subsequently the rest of the neighborhood. Fortunately, the one thing he could count on was that his dog was instantly identifiable. Athena, a beautiful brindle dog had one key feature that Dylan hoped would help bring her home — she had three legs.
Bad Days Behind Them
A year prior, Athena survived having her leg amputated. It was a tough decision that weighed heavily on Dylan as he tried to do what was best for his pet after she was hit by a car. He’d thought that overcoming that accident had put their worst days behind them, and he was sorely mistaken.
Health Risk
At the time of her disappearance, Athena was still on medication as part of her recovery plan, which added another layer of worry to Dylan’s plate. The idea of his dog suffering without proper care, on top of the confusion of not understanding what was happening to her, was almost too much to bear.
