A dog boarded a bus in Australia alone with no owner in sight. The pooch took a seat and got off at a train station before someone picked her up. A hunt for her owner quickly gained traction on social media.
Australian outlet News.com explains that the dog casually strolled onto the 476 Bus route on August 5 and even perched on a seat. She was wearing a blue coat near the back of the bus, and although the dog didn’t make a fuss, passengers quickly realized her owner was nowhere to be found.
The outlet explains that Katerina Hatzi first raised the alarm online. Her brother was riding the bus at the time and sent her a picture of the furry passenger. “After three stops, he overheard someone calling out ‘Who’s dog is this?’ and he realized nobody owned the dog,” Hatzi told 9 News.
Per News.com, Hatzi’s brother kept an eye on the dog until she got off by herself at a Kogara station. A witness, Sarah Winwood, said the dog was “so stressed at Kogarah station.” She worried the pooch would jump onto the tracks, but a group picked her up in work clothes away from the edge and handed her over to station staff.
Authorities then transported her to the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home (SDCH).
A Microchip Revealed The Dog’s Identity And Owner
The SDCH told News.com that the dog was micro chipped. They identified her as Athena, a 3-year-old American Staffordshire terrier. Staff at the station told the outlet Athena was “a friendly little thing, and we looked after her well.” The microchip reportedly had out-of-date information, but the SDCH still managed to trace the owner. A spokesperson told News.com, “Her owner is overseas, but a family member has been in contact, and hopefully we can get that sorted out.” The outlet also revealed Athena’s adventures have earned her the name “San Souci’s favorite commuter” on social media.
Due to the extra attention, the SDCH urges owners to ensure their pets have up-to-date information on their microchips. They also advise collars with identity info.