NTDWA – An extreme marathoner is to be reunited with a stray dog that befriended him during a grueling race in China, thanks to a crowdfunding appeal. Dion Leonard was taking part in the 4 Desert Race when he met Gobi in the Tian Shan mountain range. The pair quickly became friends after Gobi matched Dion step for step along the seven-day, 250-kilometre route. However, he had to leave Gobi at the finishing line and hoped to bring him home to Edinburgh, Scotland.
Mr Leonard launched a crowdfunding appeal to raise the £5,000 needed to cover the medical and quarantine costs in order to “bring Gobi home”. That target was smashed within 24 hours, with 272 backers raising more than £8,600. He said the pair had quickly formed a bond. “Basically on day two she decided to run with me on one of the stages, which was around 25-30 kilometres over the Tian Shan mountain range.
“She’d actually been with us the day before running through one of the largest sand dunes in China, so she was well-versed in running with all the competitors there, but on day two she decided to stick with me. She would run ahead of me and wait for me 20 or 30 metres down the road and then I’d have to catch up with her … she’s such a small dog but had a massive heart. “There were times during the race when, you know I’m there to race and compete and I’m trying to do my best to win the race but we had to cross some really large rivers where I would have to carry her over them.
“I didn’t actually have the time to do it but I realised then that I had to take her with me and the bond was made.” Mr Leonard said Gobi was still
🙂
Awww…It’s like Obama and Bobby Titcomb reuniting at Christmas vacation. Except for the smoking dope and blowing each other part.
I’m a sucker for dog stories. I’m also a sucker, I hope that is a real story.
Creatures without sin.
He was a big stray dog?
I have to turn off images cause of all the image crap but I had to turn it on for this one.
Man that is annoying stuff and it displays twice.
Awww, what a great story. That little dog has a big heart, plus she knew who she wanted to be with. Smart dog.
He better get the pup out before those savages make dinner out of him.
(((sniff))) good doggy…
This was in China?
Probably a deeper story here. She might have been running already and finally ran across someone not trying to eat her.
but mom, she just followed me home – ya gotta let me keep her!!
….and I will wash her and feed her and take her for walks and train her to go potty and teach her to roll over….can I keep her, PLEASE????
This is quite similar to the story about – Arthur the dog who crossed a jungle to find a home.
Arthur a stray dog in Ecuador joined a Swedish adventure team after being tossed a Swedish meatball, and wouldn’t abandon them in the multiday race through the Amazon. Mikael one of the team members adopted Arthur. The book was just released.
http://www.tworoadsbooks.com/non-fiction/arthur-mikael-lindnord/ .
I don’t know how dogs do it, but the word is circulating worldwide in the world stray courageous canines, latch on to international athletes to find a home.