When you embark on a journey through one of the most remote parts of the world, you have to be prepared for just about anything that comes your way.
That's why it's such an adventure. You truly never know what or who you might encounter along the way. When a 4-person Swedish racing team set out in Ecuador in 2014 to compete against extreme athletes from all over the planet in the Adventure Racing World Championship, they probably prepared to see parrots, monkeys, big cats and maybe some crazy birds like these ones in Crucita along the 430-mile endurance race. A stray dog was probably the last animal they expected to see in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, but that's exactly who found team leader Mikael Lindnord and forced his way onto their team. And believe it or not, it all started with a meatball.
Lindnord made friends with a kindhearted stray and shared his meatball with the dog, thinking he'd be on his way. Instead, the dog refused to leave the team and followed them through the most unimaginable conditions. Despite efforts to lose the dog, who they named Arthur, he refused and even started swimming behind their kayak at one point. As you can see in these photos, the journey was truly incredible for the adventurers and their 5th teammate, who crossed the finish line with them after six days.
The dog eventually returned with the team, who placed 4th out of 12 teams, to Sweden to will live with Lindnord and his family. They have since started the Arthur Foundation to help support stray dogs like their new friend from the jungle.
If this doesn't prove that dogs love us and want to protect us, I don't know what does! Please SHARE this stray's amazing story with all of your friends on Facebook!
[Photo Source]
