Finally, a feel good ending to a rotten story reported in August by HNGN. The broken-spirited Dogue de Bordeaux who had been tethered to a bag full of heavy gravel and buried alive up to her neck by her cruel owner in France has recovered and found her forever home. Rejoice in the goodness of people — and the second chance for this lovely dog!

Pedro Dinis was walking his dog just west of Paris in Carrieres-sur-Seine when his hound started acting peculiar and led him to the horrific site. The abused dog, now named Athena, was buried in a pile of gravel with only her head visible. She was dehydrated, in shock, lethargic and had rocks all around her (which were possibly pummeled at her while she layed there helpless and immobile), said Petful.

"Only her head was visible and it was difficult to see given the amount of earth covering her," Dinis posted on Facebook, according to Life with Dogs.

After giving Athena water, he and his dog dug her out and called an emergency crew to save her.

As you can see from the pictures on Clinique Veterinaire V24 Facebook page, where she recovered and rehabilitated, Athena was still a sad, broken dog. The mental abuse coupled with the physical abuse had broken her spirit, even as the vet's office gave her love and care.

But then, day by day, she healed and regained her spirit. Athena blossomed into a beautiful dog, both inside and out, according to the Dodo, and it wasn't long before a family that oversees a dog rescue took her in and adopted her. She has even managed to regain her trust in humans. Animals are truly remarkable.

Athena doesn't even look like the same dog — what a difference love can make. She is beautiful.

When she got better, Dinis, her guardian angel, came by with his dog to visit. He was thrilled to be reunited with Athena and see how one individual can start the process to change an animal's life. Dinis was ecstatic to see the happily ever after moment and so are we.

Athena's abusive 21-year-old owner was tracked down and faces up to two years in prison and $33,000 in fines if convicted on the animal cruelty charges.