OK I admit it I love animals and happy animal stories...
Finding Gobi: Runner reunited with marathon companion dog
"It was love again at immediate sight", is how Dion Leonard describes the moment he was reunited with his adopted dog, Gobi.
The dog had joined the ultra-marathoner on a 250km (155 mile) run across China's Gobi desert last month.
They became inseparable, winning an online fanbase which helped fund Mr Leonard's plan to bring Gobi to the UK.
But earlier this week, the dog suddenly went missing, sparking an online campaign to find him.
The story of Dion and Gobi first captured hearts when news spread about how Gobi had followed him through his 250km run (155 miles) across mountain and desert areas across China.
"I started to speed off and I'm thinking this dog won't last the whole day but she was still with me at the end. From then on she didn't leave my side," he told the BBC at the time.
Australian-born Mr Leonard had left China after the race, leaving Gobi with a friend, while he organised the medical tests and quarantine procedures to take the dog home with him to Scotland.
On Sunday, after hearing the news Gobi had vanished, he flew back to Urumqi to begin a search, giving out flyers and posting on social media.
'Hard to remain positive'
His search soon caught the attention of audiences worldwide, including those on Chinese micro-blogging site Weibo, who spread information and called on other netizens to help in the search.
Posters like these were handed along the streets of Umruqi in an effort to find Gobi.
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However, he said his hopes began fading after they failed to find a lead for five days.
"It's been really difficult to remain positive in front of everyone else," he told BBC 5 Live. "I've been going back to my room every night and falling into a bit of a heap."
Finally, he received a call from a local Chinese man on Wednesday night, who had seen Gobi at the local park.
"A local person had seen all the posters and the TV work and was walking his dog when he spotted Gobi and he called me.
"To be honest we've been down this track before with a couple of other dogs and we were quite uncertain it was actually her."
Dion's hopes were starting to fade after there was still no sign of finding Gobi after five days.
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"When we got there, I walked through the door and she came running towards me and ran around my legs and jumped up on me. It was love again at immediate sight."
Ecstatic fans quickly took to social media upon hearing the good news.
"I am crying in public I am so happy for you guys!", said one user on Twitter.
"I can sleep soundly tonight!, said another user.
Facebook users were overjoyed upon hearing the news.
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Others called for British Airways to fly the duo home for free, first class.
Even across Chinese social media, fans were rejoicing.
"Hope you have a good life abroad Gobi!", said one user on micro-blogging site Weibo.
"I hope the food abroad is to your liking Gobi! Take care" said another.
Dion isn't planning on letting go of Gobi anytime soon.
----------------
This time, after losing Gobi, Mr Leonard isn't taking anymore chances.
"I'll be staying here as long as it takes to make sure everything is in place," he said.
"I'm going to try to do two things tonight: try not to cry and not to swear, I'm so excited. It's one of the best days of my life."
SOURCE 1 also has video.
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OP: More details on how the two met are in the following earlier article.
----------------------
Marathon runner's bid to adopt Chinese stray dog
An extreme marathon runner hopes to be reunited with a stray dog he befriended during a gruelling 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 now hopes to bring her home to Edinburgh.
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 has been smashed, with 231 backers already raising more than £7,700.
He told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme the pair had quickly formed a bond.
He said: "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 in the desert in China and was being looked after by a friend. He said they were in the process of trying to organise for her to be taken to Beijing for medical tests and quarantine procedures before she could be flown to the UK.
He said he was hopeful she would be in Scotland in time for Christmas.
"That would be amazing", he said. "That would be the best Christmas present ever. I'm hopeful that will happen and I'm really thankful for all the support funding-wise because that's certainly made things a lot easier."
SOURCE 2.
---------------------------
OP: OMG but that little doggie is so adorable and this is such a sweet story. :-D
"It was love again at immediate sight", is how Dion Leonard describes the moment he was reunited with his adopted dog, Gobi.
The dog had joined the ultra-marathoner on a 250km (155 mile) run across China's Gobi desert last month.
They became inseparable, winning an online fanbase which helped fund Mr Leonard's plan to bring Gobi to the UK.
But earlier this week, the dog suddenly went missing, sparking an online campaign to find him.
The story of Dion and Gobi first captured hearts when news spread about how Gobi had followed him through his 250km run (155 miles) across mountain and desert areas across China.
"I started to speed off and I'm thinking this dog won't last the whole day but she was still with me at the end. From then on she didn't leave my side," he told the BBC at the time.
Australian-born Mr Leonard had left China after the race, leaving Gobi with a friend, while he organised the medical tests and quarantine procedures to take the dog home with him to Scotland.
On Sunday, after hearing the news Gobi had vanished, he flew back to Urumqi to begin a search, giving out flyers and posting on social media.
'Hard to remain positive'
His search soon caught the attention of audiences worldwide, including those on Chinese micro-blogging site Weibo, who spread information and called on other netizens to help in the search.
Posters like these were handed along the streets of Umruqi in an effort to find Gobi.
-------------------
However, he said his hopes began fading after they failed to find a lead for five days.
"It's been really difficult to remain positive in front of everyone else," he told BBC 5 Live. "I've been going back to my room every night and falling into a bit of a heap."
Finally, he received a call from a local Chinese man on Wednesday night, who had seen Gobi at the local park.
"A local person had seen all the posters and the TV work and was walking his dog when he spotted Gobi and he called me.
"To be honest we've been down this track before with a couple of other dogs and we were quite uncertain it was actually her."
Dion's hopes were starting to fade after there was still no sign of finding Gobi after five days.
----------------
"When we got there, I walked through the door and she came running towards me and ran around my legs and jumped up on me. It was love again at immediate sight."
Ecstatic fans quickly took to social media upon hearing the good news.
"I am crying in public I am so happy for you guys!", said one user on Twitter.
"I can sleep soundly tonight!, said another user.
Facebook users were overjoyed upon hearing the news.
-------------------
Others called for British Airways to fly the duo home for free, first class.
Even across Chinese social media, fans were rejoicing.
"Hope you have a good life abroad Gobi!", said one user on micro-blogging site Weibo.
"I hope the food abroad is to your liking Gobi! Take care" said another.
Dion isn't planning on letting go of Gobi anytime soon.
----------------
This time, after losing Gobi, Mr Leonard isn't taking anymore chances.
"I'll be staying here as long as it takes to make sure everything is in place," he said.
"I'm going to try to do two things tonight: try not to cry and not to swear, I'm so excited. It's one of the best days of my life."
SOURCE 1 also has video.
------------------
OP: More details on how the two met are in the following earlier article.
----------------------
Marathon runner's bid to adopt Chinese stray dog
An extreme marathon runner hopes to be reunited with a stray dog he befriended during a gruelling 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 now hopes to bring her home to Edinburgh.
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 has been smashed, with 231 backers already raising more than £7,700.
He told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme the pair had quickly formed a bond.
He said: "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 in the desert in China and was being looked after by a friend. He said they were in the process of trying to organise for her to be taken to Beijing for medical tests and quarantine procedures before she could be flown to the UK.
He said he was hopeful she would be in Scotland in time for Christmas.
"That would be amazing", he said. "That would be the best Christmas present ever. I'm hopeful that will happen and I'm really thankful for all the support funding-wise because that's certainly made things a lot easier."
SOURCE 2.
---------------------------
OP: OMG but that little doggie is so adorable and this is such a sweet story. :-D