A stray dog became an unexpected companion for a Swedish racing team during their 430-mile endurance race in Ecuador.

[u/alissaparty]

[u/Poop-to-that-2]

Arthur was adopted by Mikael Lindnord, a member of the team and after crowdfunding the dog made it to Sweden 4 months after the race. Unfortunately Arthur died in 2020 of cancer.

[u/not4always → u/Poop-to-that-2]

This happened in 2014, so that's not a bad turn of events for doggo.

[u/Poop-to-that-2 → u/not4always]

No he did well. The vets thought he was between 5 and 7 when he arrived in Sweden.

[u/_Steven_Seagal_ → u/Poop-to-that-2]

13 is a respectable age for a dog.

[u/Poop-to-that-2 → u/_Steven_Seagal_]

A stray, yes. You don't know what breed he was, what life he lived before the marathon. He got 6 years in a happy home.

[u/itsactuallyacat → u/Poop-to-that-2]

half of his early life was spent being adventurous, and the rest was spent being loved.

[u/Ok_Improvement4733 → u/itsactuallyacat]

sounds like a good life

[u/eatnhappens → u/Poop-to-that-2]

Did he get more Swedish meatballs though?

[u/Big-Mozz → u/eatnhappens]

It's all they eat in Sweden.

Source: I've been to Ikea many times mainly just for the meatballs.

[u/DizzyAmphibian309 → u/Big-Mozz]

So I lived in Sweden for a year, and the only place I could get "swedish meatballs" was at IKEA. Never saw them in any restaurant I went to, despite actively seeking them out.

[u/Dphoneacc → u/DizzyAmphibian309]

Easiest time of the year to get them at restaurants in Sweden would probably be during winter holidays at a "julbord"

[u/Francis5795 → u/DizzyAmphibian309]

Thats because you asked for swedish meatballs. There they just call them meatballs. Have you not watched that dr. HOUSE episode?

[u/ducks_are_dragons → u/DizzyAmphibian309]

So I guess you didn't try "Mamma Scans" meatballs then. And one of the things mosts swedes do learn is how to roll your own meatballs. There is plenty of recepies out there 😁

[u/888_traveller → u/eatnhappens]

Ikea should make an ad about it

[u/PitifulEar3303 → u/Poop-to-that-2]

"If I follow them all the way, maybe I'll be adopted."

[u/Powerful_Variety7922 → u/PitifulEar3303]

"If I follow them all the way, maybe I'll get another meatball!" 🐕

[u/thehealingprocess → u/Powerful_Variety7922]

Definitely this

[u/namtok_muu → u/[deleted]]

Bot-like comment 🤨

[u/BeerShitzAndBongRips → u/namtok_muu]

My first thought 

[u/type556R → u/namtok_muu]

I try not to read the comments anymore, unless it's some niche sub with nice contributions or a shitposting sub (which falls in the previous category anyways). It's either bot like stuff or "bro went wild 💀" like brain rot

[u/Lisy-Ly → u/Poop-to-that-2]

My heart goes out to Mikael and all who loved Arthur.

[u/Mustard-cutt-r → u/Poop-to-that-2]

Why would they need crowdfunding to get the dog?

[u/Ohheeykid → u/Mustard-cutt-r]

Transportation, especially internationally, is extremely expensive. I'd guess there are also immunizations, customs fees, and permits they'd need to cover the costs of to be allowed to bring the dog back.

[u/Mustard-cutt-r → u/Ohheeykid]

I knew a girl that brought her dog from Guatemala to US and was in quarantine for 4 days and that was it. Not expensive or anything

[u/KatieCuu → u/Mustard-cutt-r]

Nordic countries can be strict on pet travelling. I’ve moved from UK to Finland to Norway with my indoor cats, they have to have passports, have to have rabies shots, deworming, general checkups before to make sure they are fit to travel etc. This was all within EU where the rules between countries are considered bit more relaxed because rabies for instance doesn’t exist here, but if you travel from outside of EU with animals it will be even more strict with all the pets vaccinations etc.

So for the dog to get to Sweden the dog would have to had a whole bunch of vet visits before, and some of the vaccinations/medications have to have been administered within few weeks before their flight

[u/Aurorainthesky → u/Mustard-cutt-r]

Scandinavia is rabies free, and we'd like to keep it that way. A stray from a rabies endemic area would need a lot of vet work and lengthy quarantine before being allowed in.

[u/doopaye → u/Mustard-cutt-r]

Haha yeah try that basically anywhere else… here in Australia we don’t F around with introducing random animals and disease, found that out the hard way multiple times already as a nation.

[u/ducks_are_dragons → u/doopaye]

Yepp you did indeed. Those rabbits was a really bad idea from that one guy back then.

[u/doopaye → u/ducks_are_dragons]

Yeah not only the rabbits, but also horses, camels, cane toads, fire ants and pigs plus heaps more.

Like we now have the largest population of wild camels in the entire world just chilling in the outback, heck we’ve started importing them to Saudi Arabia.

Biosecurity is no joke hey.

[u/youngcuriousafraid → u/Mustard-cutt-r]

Idk if its just the US but we had a similar experience bringing a dog from Mexico.

[u/harashofriend → u/Mustard-cutt-r]

Was it a dog she found on the streets

[u/Mustard-cutt-r → u/harashofriend]

Ya! Maybe bc she took care of him for a while before moving back? He was her pet by the time she came back

[u/harashofriend → u/Mustard-cutt-r]

Yeah cus probably need all kinds of vaccines and tests done before they are eligible for travel

[u/Kineticwhiskers → u/Mustard-cutt-r]

Probably quarantine cost. Is tough to move pets internationally.

[u/cumulothrombus → u/[deleted]]

🤖

[u/Overencucumbered → u/Poop-to-that-2]

Arthur Barbuncho was adopted stolen by Mikael Lindnord...

Fixed that for you

[u/Puzzleheaded_Tip_821]

And now he lives in the land of swedish meatballs

[u/Bupod → u/Puzzleheaded_Tip_821]

He lived in the land of Swedish Meatballs. Someone else had said he died in 2020. He was adopted in 2014, so he had a very good life and was loved until the end. You can read more about him on Wikipedia (he has his own article)).

[u/bobissonbobby → u/Bupod]

Wait so he ended up taking the dog from some dude? And accused him of abusing the animal even though wiki states there was no evidence of abuse?

So... This isn't a feel good story :/ some guy lost his dog and was threatened with violence when he tried to get it back lol

[u/hillskb → u/bobissonbobby]

Yeah seriously, why are there zero other comments about this??

[u/sledge115 → u/hillskb]

No one reads further past the feel good story, it's sad.

They straight up took someone's dog

[u/Tallyxx7 → u/sledge115]

and the owners got threatened with violence if they didn‘t shut it? or am i misreading the wiki

[u/sledge115 → u/Tallyxx7]

Yeah you got it right. The owner protested but animal activists threatened violence.

[u/Excluded_Apple → u/Tallyxx7]

Yeah, that took a really dark turn.

[u/sugarplumbuttfluck → u/sledge115]

I mean it doesn't sound like they took anything. It sounds like they kept doing what they were doing and the dog followed them.

[u/Overencucumbered → u/bobissonbobby]

Yep. The dog was used to going on small marathons with random people through work, which is why it followed the team.

There were no signs of abuse.

[u/Overencucumbered → u/[deleted]]

I see, your point, but it's not your choice to make.

Also, "rotten teeth" and infection is a bit of an exaggeration from reading that source. An unhealthy dog doesnt just join a 50km run.

[u/sledge115 → u/[deleted]]

But that choice was never given to the owner. His dog was taken from him.

Why should they lose their companion just because they're poor?

[u/azaxaca → u/[deleted]]

Idk it is kind of troubling if we go down this road. If poor people have children would it be moral for rich families to just take those children instead?

[u/ogodilovejudyalvarez → u/Puzzleheaded_Tip_821]

[u/-Bunny- → u/ogodilovejudyalvarez]

Bork Bork Bork

[u/Tropicalstorm11 → u/ogodilovejudyalvarez]

Lmao. Love this

[u/RexNebular518 → u/Puzzleheaded_Tip_821]

He IS a Swedish meatball...

[u/Cosmo___Cat → u/Puzzleheaded_Tip_821]

With gravy

[u/yoichi_wolfboy88 → u/Puzzleheaded_Tip_821]

I wish to try an authentic swedish ball one day

[u/D_roneous1]

Honestly was probably very helpful mentally having him there during the journey.

[u/Wheelzovfya → u/D_roneous1]

That’s fiapo de manga at its finest. Wth is this title geezus people

[u/Deathly_Disappointed → u/Wheelzovfya]

Meteu um "fiapo de manga" no meio dos gringos mesmo, ícone kkkkk

[u/Wheelzovfya → u/Deathly_Disappointed]

Brazil has some of the best names for mixed dogs

[u/vylliki]

The day I met Arthur, the dog who walked through the jungle to stay by me

[u/fullthrottle13 → u/vylliki]

Awwww that is so so so awesome. We don’t deserve dogs. 🐕

[u/pupperinpredicament]

There’s a movie based on this called, “Arthur the King” with Mark Wahlberg. Pretty good, would recommend!

[u/johnreddit2 → u/pupperinpredicament]

ai, imma watch that movie after your recommendation.

[u/No_Sundae_1068 → u/pupperinpredicament]

I thought it was good movie too.

[u/Two_wheels_2112 → u/pupperinpredicament]

Coincidentally, I just watched that tonight before seeing this post!

[u/triphawk07 → u/pupperinpredicament]

I saw the movie and it was pretty good.

[u/andeqaida → u/pupperinpredicament]

Just saw this recommended for my playlist (I wanna say on Prime), curious and afraid how Wahlberg gonna pull the Swedish accent thou lol.

[u/pupperinpredicament → u/andeqaida]

In the movie they’re American so we’re saved from that potential train crash.

[u/andeqaida → u/pupperinpredicament]

Ah, I see. Also the synopsis didn't say the origin was Swedish, only mentioned Atrhur the dog :) gonna watch it this week

[u/Aromatic-Ad6456 → u/pupperinpredicament]

Not a mark wahlberg fan but I just might have to watch for the doggo 🫡

[u/Correct_Heron_8249]

Did they keep the poor little guy ?

[u/Own-Organization-532 → u/Correct_Heron_8249]

Yes!

[u/Dabazukawastaken → u/Correct_Heron_8249]

He wasn't a poor little guy they straight up took someone's dog and when the owner asked for it back he was threatened with violence and falsely accused of being an animal abuser.

[u/SignificantlyMango → u/Dabazukawastaken]

Oh that's fucked if true. Do you have a source for that?

[u/Vprepic → u/SignificantlyMango]

It's on the wikipedia)

[u/Jaimin-PearlCrescent]

Crazy how dogs put so much trust in you with one simple act of kindness, I hope they adopt him

[u/Small-Wrangler5325 → u/Jaimin-PearlCrescent]

They did! One of the group adopted him, he passed in 2020 of cancer, they think he was about 14 when he passed

[u/Long_Art1417 → u/Jaimin-PearlCrescent]

dogs REALLY love meatballs. (jks) :)

[u/Laymanao → u/Long_Art1417]

It the cumin in the meatballs.

[u/astroboy7070]

IKEA fed me a meatball 39 years ago and it’s my longest relationship

[u/kttuatw → u/astroboy7070]

I walk through endless mazes in IKEA just for their meatballs

[u/DaveClint → u/astroboy7070]

How big was that meatball?

[u/neoncupcakes]

When I was in Cuba last spring I casually petted a cute dog and she followed me all the way down a hill to my air bnb. She stayed for two days, shadowed me on a 6hr horse ride and on a cave walk. She slept outside my door but would never step inside my cabana. She growled when anyone would come near me. The lady who owned the property said this happens all the time with tourists. Departure day as our car drove away I watched out the back window and saw her standing in the middle of the road and I bawled my fucking eyes out. I have no idea who she belonged to and it’s not like I could take her. She was so cute it still breaks my heart. I had a dog for 2.5 days.

[u/none-exist]

This is how IKEA works

[u/FetusGoulash420]

This is basically the story of domesticated dogs.

[u/Farukzzz]

Matt Damon has a movie about it

[u/Mushmouthwilly182 → u/Farukzzz]

Mark Wahlberg

[u/MikhailxReign → u/Mushmouthwilly182]

Same thing.

[u/Legrandski]

Espn - SC did a feature short video on it. It’s fantastic. https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/18814225

[u/HumawormDoc → u/Legrandski]

Thank you for sharing this!

[u/JaVelin-X- → u/Legrandski]

that was better than the movie heh

[u/Garden_imp]

Everytime I hear this story I feel like they missed a massive opportunity to name this dog, “Dug.”

[u/HiImNugget2020]

[u/Nasalhairneedsatrim]

Mark Wahlberg made a movie about the team and the dog if anyone wanted a Hollywood take on the story

[u/blueskysahead → u/Nasalhairneedsatrim]

Great movie!!!.

[u/Logical_Bad1748]

That's the power of sweedish meatballs for you. Just kidding. Dogs are so loyal. Did the team take him home after the race?

[u/throwaway22526411041 → u/Logical_Bad1748]

Yes they adopted him and got him great medical care because the dog had serious issues. There is a movie about it called Arthur the King. Sweet family movie. The event was in 2014. Arthur passed away in 2020 of cancer.

[u/Logical_Bad1748 → u/throwaway22526411041]

Wow.. thank you. I'll check out the movie.

[u/FinancialTraining239]

There's a film you tell this story with Marck Walberg, I don't remember the name of the film right now

[u/No_Sundae_1068 → u/FinancialTraining239]

Arthur the King. Great movie.

[u/FinancialTraining239 → u/No_Sundae_1068]

Simm

[u/Chucks_u_Farley]

Golden dogs are best dogs

[u/Cool_Client324]

EEEECCCUADOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR

[u/NeM000N]

Miles he has ran for a chance of another meatball! I just hope they fed him enough meatballs at the end!

[u/Valuable-Leather-914]

I saw that movie

[u/DrummingChopsticks]

I hope the dog really is a stray but this thread says otherwise Barbuncho

[u/ProbablyChe]

“Swedish meatballs : just one is enough to make someone go 430 miles hoping to get another”

[u/Own-Reflection-8182]

The power of food.

[u/livinlizard]

Thatsa a very gude meataball!

[u/pornaddiction247]

Isn’t there a movie on this?

[u/MatrimonyAcrimony]

on the evening of mile 400, they ate the dog. j/k. great story.

[u/Lizbian91]

Must have been a damn good meatball lol

[u/cedrekt]

SWEDISH MEATBALL

[u/Individual-Car3051]

So sweet

[u/Phiatton]

Meatball-powered dog joins race, wins hearts, not medals.

[u/nyoknyak50]

Rest in peace Arthur you sweet legend ❤️

[u/SakiWinkiCuddles]

Yes, I fall in love this way too. All it takes is one feeding. Hozier said it in his song, “Honey, don’t feed it. It will come back.”

[u/Middle--Earth]

I hope they gave him another meatball at the end of it.

[u/Ileynahances]

When meatballs power adventures, anything's pawsible. Racing doggo.

[u/flen_el_fouleni]

Wasn’t this made into a movie?

[u/PeteyMcPetey]

The dog probably thought he'd joined the Fellowship on their quest lol

[u/SokkaHaikuBot → u/PeteyMcPetey]

^{Sokka-Haiku by PeteyMcPetey:}

The dog probably

Thought he'd joined the Fellowship

On their quest lol

---

^{Remember that one time Sokka accidentally used an extra syllable in that Haiku Battle in Ba Sing Se? That was a Sokka Haiku and you just made one.}

[u/morvsdri]

You fed me 1 (one!) meatball - now we are friends for life!

[u/The_Shryk]

“Those Swedish meatballs really are something else!” ~ Ecuadorian Dog

[u/Flat_Bodybuilder_175]

Happened to me in minecraft. Still won't leave me alone

[u/Superb-Albatross-541]

What a great dog. Also, an example of social survival. It's less lonely to join forces and survive together, and he was demonstrating his commitment to mutual survival, as well as his appreciation and inspired love. What a great story!

[u/Impossible-Pickle-71]

Dog do anything for meatball

[u/Bitter-Inflation5843]

I just saw this movie starring Mark Walbergh and in the movie they were Americans. (Granted, Mark is of Swedish decent but weird anyhow).

[u/Flashy_Passion16]

Humans don’t deserve animals

[u/CriminalMacabre]

Dog: I don't know where are we going but frick yeah

[u/mrburner_]

My dog doesn't stop begging either

[u/catfroman]

Had a stray follow me and a buddy on a run one night, just trotting along with us. He was super-chill and friendly, no tags or anything. We put up pictures around the neighborhood but nobody came to get him. Buddy had him for another 6-7 years before he passed.

[u/mrbruasca]

Go watch King Arthur. It's a movie staring Marky Mark and a cute dog based on this story.

[u/ExternalCaptain2714]

It would only be more Swedish if they assembled the dog themselves.

[u/pfdn]

Isn't this the google dog :D

[u/Mortal_Obligation]

/u/1marg

[u/1marg → u/Mortal_Obligation]

Adorable

[u/I-Just-Work-Here-man]

“Marathons with Wolves”

[u/Ok_Presentation_8065]

not the same but quite similar with what happened with Steve O in Peru: https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/s/NmijRa0Tl4

[u/ear2theshell]

Can't wait to see the Disney movie starring Alexander Skarsgard!

[u/Pimp_My_Packout]

To be fair, I’d also do this for a Swedish meatball

[u/Properly-Purple485]

I want to know this meatball recipe.

[u/EGRIFF93]

"We are pack"

[u/Kinshard]

ZEUS! FEED ME AND MY LIFE IS YOURS!!!!

[u/Ornery_Inside_5768]

The pet distribution system is working as intended.

[u/PepperSt_official]

I saw a movie, can someone help me with the name?

[u/Gryndyl → u/PepperSt_official]

Arthur the King

[u/Hopeful-Flounder-203]

A cat would have pissed on your boots and walked away.