Adventurers adopt stray dog who refused to leave them during 430-mile endurance race

Published on 23 Mar 2015

A stray dog adopted by adventurers on a 430-mile South America endurance mission has arrived at his new home. Arthur joined Mikael Lindnord's Team Peak Performance on an extreme trek around Ecuador as part of the Adventure Racing World Championship last November. The group fed the stray a meatball and from then on he refused to leave their side.

Arthur joined the team in huge hikes, mountain climbs and energy-sapping mud treks as the arduous trail took the group through the Andes, the Pacific and the Amazon rainforest.

He also took part in a 36 mile kayak ride - even after the group had tried to set off without him. Instead, Arthur dove into the water and started frantically paddling, forcing Lindnord to drag him into the boat, reports the Daily Mail.

Now, unable to face the prospect of life without his trusted companion, Lindnord has adopted the dog in his native Sweden.

After being forced to spend four months in quarantine for health reasons, Arthur has finally been given the all clear to start his new life.

Lindnord told MailOnline: "He is really happy to be with us. When we came to pick him up he jumped around, gave us kisses on the mouth and lay down so we could scratch his stomach. He has been greeting everyone he has met during the day.

'We have been waiting for this day for so long and now he is here. Its a big day for our family and an even better day for Arthur.

"It is his first day as a free dog with a family who loves him."

He named the dog Arthur after the legend of King Arthur, as he described him as "calm, almost noble".

Lindnord plans to treat Arthur like part of the family, with his own bed and food - a world away from his life as a stray.

He said: "He is a fighter like me who never gives up. I could really see that in the jungle when he just kept following us."