An unexpected incident unfolded on a Sydney bus when a playful American Staffordshire Terrier named Athena boarded without her owner, leading to a search for her family. The three-year-old dog began her journey in Sans Souci, about 17 kilometres from Sydney’s central business district, and ended up approximately 5 kilometres away at Kogarah station.
Katerina Hatzi recounted that her brother, Nik, noticed the lost dog aboard the 476 bus while on his commute. Realising nobody claimed Athena after overhearing bus passengers asking, “Who’s dog is this?”, he took immediate action. Nik managed to capture a photo of the dog and sent it to Katerina, who shared it on a local Facebook page dedicated to the Sans Souci community, known for efficiently assisting with lost pets.
As Athena travelled, Nik ensured she remained safe, keeping an eye on her until they reached Kogarah station. Once off the bus, he, alongside another passenger, helped prevent her from getting too close to the train platform’s edge. Subsequently, they handed Athena over to station staff, who contacted the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home (SDCH) in Strathfield, where she was housed for the night.
Currently listed under pet ID 263851 by the SDCH, Athena is microchipped, but as of now, her owner has not been located. Katerina noted the high number of Facebook shares to raise awareness about Athena, but so far, there have been no leads on her owner. Sydney’s resident dog lovers and the community at large remain hopeful that news will soon emerge, reuniting Athena with her family.