Mystery Dog Miraculously Rescued At Sea!

EMERGENCY–MYSTERY DOG MIRACULOUSLY RESCUED AT SEA! WE NEED YOUR HELP!
If only this little guy could talk! He can’t, but maybe you can speak for him.
Anyone know anything about this dog?
On Sunday, 15 October, 20 divers, guests at Belize Ocean Club, were diving a few miles from Pompion Caye.
Someone yelled: “Hey, there’s a dog in the water!” He looked weak, paddling around in the middle of the Sea, miles away from land or boat. A diver jumped into the Sea, but the dog began to fearfully swim away. Another attempt was successful, and this pooch was gently lifted into the boat.
Jeff, Hoa, Bob, Maryann, Brian, and the other divers reported that he was clearly in a state of shock. He was shivering, and did not want to be touched. Amazingly, a U.S. veterinarian was on the boat, and was able to determine that this pooch was actually a well-cared for dog.
By the time they reached Belize Ocean Club, this mystery dog had already touched the divers’ hearts. He was named–given more than one name, actually– Neptune, Poseidon, Salty Dog. According to Jeff: “This was a totally mind numbing experience. We knew he was a gentle dog, not aggressive, and he deserved a good life.” Belize Ocean Club’s Anna Perigo, was immediately notified. She went to

the PHS website, and contacted Candace Feldman, PHS volunteer coordinator for rescues, fosters, and adoptions.
Neptune/Poseidon/Salty Dog slept the night in the Belize Ocean Club dive shop, under the close eyes of Roberta and Dario, the dive operators.
The next day, the divers took turns walking and running the dog on the beach. He was lavished with so much attention and love! As Hoa said: “Everyone got very emotionally involved with this dog.”
PHS board members, Melanie L Wilcher, Patricia Celenza, and photo/video volunteer Loco Caballo, reached Belize Ocean Club later that day. He was delivered to Regina Klaus Gilmore, who is now lovingly fostering him and introducing him to his new life on land.
The divers who so caringly rescued this dog are part of
Diving for Life, a group of 128 participants from the United States who travel and dive around the world, raising money for various AIDS service organizations in the U.S. In the past 25 years, they have raised more than U.S. $1,000,000.00.
Perfect that Diving for Life saved this dog’s life. What a story!
But he still remains a mystery dog. He is about 1 to 1 ½ years old, not neutered. We know nothing about how he ended up swimming in the middle of the Sea. Maybe he fell off a boat? Maybe he was swimming around a caye and the current carried him?
PHS will continue to care for and foster him. We are sharing these pictures and his story, and hope that you will, too. We must do whatever we can to find his owner. If after a reasonable time and the owner has not been found, PHS guarantees that he will spend the rest of his days in a loving forever home.
If you have any information about this dog, please contact PHS immediately on Facebook, or message Melanie Wilcher or Patricia Celenza.

A Sad Beginning To A Very Happy Ending.

These before and after photos have shaken up animal lovers around this planet.
The story of this dog began right here in Belize. Spoiler alert—it has a great ending!
Three months ago, PHS board member Melanie L Wilcher and her niece, PHS super volunteer Idaly Wilcher were driving through Seine Bight. What caught their eyes is what you see in the first photo—a dog struggling for life, tied to a short chain, in full sun, no water or food bowls. They stopped to investigate.The owner lived in Belize City, bred this dog til she could no longer make him money. He gave her to his uncle in Seine Bight. This man could barely feed himself, admitted that sometimes he shared a bowl of rice with this dog.

He understood the dog was not well, and asked Mel: “Can you help her? Can you take her now?”
Without hesitation, Melanie and Idaly did just that, and transported her to Idaly’s family, who welcomed her with love.

Candace Feldman, PHS’ Rescue/Foster/Adoption coordinator, posted this desperate plea on FB. Shawn Marshall and Mandy Marshall rose to the challenge, and took this pathetic looking pooch into their care.
They determined that this dog had been abused. She needed a more calm environment, so Lee Marinaki volunteered to foster her.
Says Lee: “I have two cats that I brought with me from South Africa, but I thought I would give this dog a try. Within 24 hours, we were attached. She is now one of our family.”
Athena is her name, like the mythological Greek goddess of wisdom.
She is strong, healthy, proud, like the goddess for which she was named.