DO YOU KNOW MORE? Email cameron.carpenter@dailymail.com.au
A clever dog that captured the hearts of commuters by boarding a Sydney bus on her own and riding it to a train station is set to be reunited with her owner this afternoon, after a whirlwind 24 hours that turned her into an internet sensation.
The stylish Staffordshire Terrier, now affectionately nicknamed Athena, was spotted on Tuesday night hopping onto a bus in Ramsgate, dressed in a smart blue puffer vest, before cruising down to Kogarah Station like a seasoned commuter.
In a happy ending, the dog is set to be reunited with her owner this afternoon.
‘It’s my cousin’s dog. We live in Beverley Park and we’re going to pick her up today,’ a relative confirmed.
‘I think she was curious about what it was like to ride a bus. I hope she didn’t cause any inconvenience or problems. Athena is a sweetheart—playful and very excited. Thank you to everyone who cared for her and treated her well.’
The pup’s journey went viral after local woman Katerina shared a photo of her on Facebook, sparking a city-wide search for her owner on Wednesday.
Katerina told Daily Mail Australia it was her brother Nik who first noticed the dog was travelling alone.
‘After three stops, he overheard someone calling out ‘Whose dog is this?’ and he realised nobody owned the dog,’ she said.
This stylish Staffy, now nicknamed Athena, stunned Sydney commuters when she boarded a bus on her own in Ramsgate on Tuesday nightÂ
In a heartwarming twist, a relative came forward: ‘It’s my cousin’s dog – we’re going to pick her up today’
Nik kept a watchful eye on the canine passenger until she casually disembarked at Kogarah Station, around 5km from where she boarded, before she was handed over to Sydney Trains staff.
From there, she was transported to Sydney Dogs and Cats Home in South Strathfield, where staff say she’s been soaking up the VIP treatment ever since.
She will stay at the shelter until her owners arrive, with Sydney Dogs & Cats Home Managing Director Melissa Penn reminding pet owners to keep their microchip details up to date – something that would have made reuniting Athena much faster.
‘It’s hard that she wasn’t wearing a collar and her microchip details are out of date. She’s had quite the journey, but now she’s safe, warm, and being thoroughly spoiled.’
‘This shows how important it is to ensure all our pets are microchipped, with the details kept up to date, they wear collars with contact details on them – so if they are off on adventures like this, we can get them home quickly and safely.’
Since the story broke, Athena has become a social media star, with Aussies marvelling at her independence.
‘She looks so happy,’ one said.
She’s now living her best life at the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home in South Strathfield until her owners pick her up
‘She looks so proud of her accomplishment being on that bus,’ a second added.
‘On a day out with her coat on. Looks like she’s having a good time. I hope they find her owner,’ a third said.
Share or comment on this article:
Heartwarming twist after Sydney dog stuns commuters by boarding a bus on her own