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Stray dog finds a new owner after 430-mile trek
arthur
Arthur followed the team through challenging conditions including knee-high mud.

Arthur gets a new life and inspires a charity after joining an extreme sports team

Stray dog Arthur got a new life in Sweden and even inspired a charity after following an extreme sports team on a 430-mile trek through the Amazon rainforest.

The determined dog began following the athletes as they neared the final stage of the Adventure Racing World Championships - one of the hardest races in the world.

Team captain Mikael Lindnord says it all started with a meat ball, which he fed to the stray before beginning a trek through the Ecuadorian Jungle. Arthur became a friend for life and refused to leave their sides for the rest of the race.

He followed them through challenging conditions including knee-high mud, which the team had to help pull him out of several times.

When the team reached the kayaking stage they were advised by organisers to leave Arthur behind as it would be unsafe to take him onto the water. The advice was taken on board by the team but ignored by Arthur who pursued them into the water and swam after their kayak.

Mikael said: "It was too heartbreaking and we felt we couldn't leave him so we picked him up. We could hear people cheer on the shore as we set off".

For parts of the journey, Arthur got out and swam before coming back to the kayak. Team members had to adjust their paddling technique with Arthur on board and even gave him their jackets to wear to keep him warm.

After six days and six nights, the team finished the race in 12th place - not quite as high as they had hoped, but they did gain an extra team member and best friend.

Arthur landed on Swedish soil on November 20 to start his new life with Mikael, after numerous vet checks and hours spent getting documents signed to ensure he could enter the country.

The former stray has won fans all over the world for his dogged determination and also proved to be the inspiration for a new charity, the Arthur Foundation, which aims to raise money to help stray dogs.

To watch the video, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXWJGhWPuzk&app=desktop

For more information about the race, see http://www.teampeakperformance.se/news_item.php?id=1415, or to find out more about the Arthur Foundation: http://www.teampeakperformance.se/arthur/

Images  ©Krister Göransson

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.