34 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {punchline} calling all dogs If you’ve got quirky habits or a funny tale (or tail) to tell, email hello@punchmonthly.com for a chance to share a page from your Diary of a Dog in PUNCH. I’m Athena, and while I’m living the good life in Menlo Park now, I spent my first seven years in a laboratory, subjected to experiments seeking cures for tickborne diseases that affect cattle. Beagles like me are known to be docile, trusting and loyal. I was bred specifically for experimentation but thanks to a lucky break, my life has become so much more than that! I was rescued by the Beagle Freedom Project, and after being fostered briefly in Los Angeles, I started my new chapter with John and Kate in Menlo Park. They named me Athena, after the Greek goddess of wisdom and strength, a athena DIARY OF A DOG as told to MARGARET KOENIG • photography by ROBB MOST nod to their grandson’s interest in mythology. My name proved very apt. Let’s just say that I’ve had some medical issues, and I’ve conquered them all, sometimes against daunting odds. A year ago, my oncologist estimated that I had only a few weeks to live, and yet here I am, turning 12 this month and still thriving! No one can explain it. Just call me a little miracle. I happily occupy my days sunbathing, napping on any soft surface and soliciting belly rubs. I crave constant affection, and with my big brown eyes and sweet demeanor, John and Kate find me hard to refuse. I like to stretch my legs on long walks, and recently started bringing along my favorite toy, a stuffed lemur. As for the lab where I spent my formative years? It’s now an animal sanctuary called Freedom Fields. My happy ending may have been a long time coming, but thanks to John and Kate, it was worth the wait.
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