Dog Found Buried Alive Is Now Happier Than Ever With New Family

By
Andrea A.

Earlier thisyear, Pedro Dinis had a terrible shock whilstwalking his dog in Yvelines, on the outskirts of Paris. In what can only be described as a monstrous act of cruelty, a dog had been buried alive. Thanks to this passer-by and hisdog, the traumatised mastiff named Athena was saved. She has since found happiness with her new family.

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Source : @SOS Dogues de Bordeaux

A walk through wasteland

On Saturday1st August, Dinis was walking his dog near his home in Carrières-sur-Seine, a suburbof western Paris. The resident was alerted by his dog who ran onto some wasteland and started digging. Dinis was appalled to see a dog's nose protruding from the earth. Covered in dirt and stones,this 10 year-old mastiff had been buried alive.

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Source : @Pedro DinisThe man immediately called the emergency services and startedto free the animal. "Only her head was visible andit was difficult to see given the amount of earth covering her," he described.His own dog, Déesse, helped dig out the distressed victim.

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Source : @Pedro DinisThe perpetrator had not only buried her up to her head but had attached her lead to a heavy bag of gravel so that Athenahad no chance of freeing herself.

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Source : @Pedro DinisHaving finally liberated her, Dinis offered Athenasome of his water. Thedog was "in a state of shock and dehydrated" according to the police who arrived on the scene.

A week at the vet

Athenawas quicklytaken toVeterinary Clinic V24, nearby in Levallois-Perret where she was looked after. Bathed, fed and given some much needed comfort and reassurance, she was no longer in harm.

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Source : @Clinique Vétérinaire V24Clinician staffer Barthélémy Balli said she made a full recovery just over a week later. It was then when Athena realised she was no longer in danger that her gentle and warm personality came out. Something which makes the unspeakable crime all the more worse.

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Source : @Clinique Vétérinaire V24

The vets soon discovered a tattoo which enabled the police to find herowner.

A shady excuse

The 21-year-old owner was soon found andtakeninto custody where he insulted the policemen arresting him. He denied ever burying the dog, saying that she had run away. This was not very plausible considering Athena is more than 10 years old and suffers from arthritis. "It'sdifficult to imagine her running away," said a source close to theinvestigation.The owner has been charged withanimal cruelty and could be sent to prison for two years and be forced to pay a fine of up to €30,000 ($32,600).An online petition calling for the "maximum sentence for the owner" has received over 500,000 signatures so far.

Happiness awaits

Having fully recovered, Athena wasplaced under the care of the SPAwhere they set about finding her a new home.She has since found a loving home under the care of Jean-Pierre and Raymonde Delfosse, a couple who run the dog rescue group SOS Dogue de Bordeaux. The couple adore Athena and want her to spend the rest of her life with them.

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Source : @SOS Dogues de BordeauxThe Delfosses have said Athena is very happy and confident with them, playing with the other dogs and enjoying cuddles from her lovely humans.

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Source : @SOS Dogues de Bordeaux

Right place at the right time

Recently, Pedro Dinis came to visit Athena in her new safe surroundings. Thanks to Dinis and his dog Déesse, Athena is still with us today, and happier than ever.

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Source : @SOS Dogues de Bordeaux