During the course of a marathon, a runner discovered a lost dog, carried him 19 miles to the finish line, and eventually adopted him.
The other runners were evading the dog seven miles into the 26-mile marathon in Ratchaburi, western Thailand, when 43-year-old Khemjira Klongsanun discovered them.
She reduced her speed, knelt by the side of the road, and softly called the frightened tiny Thai bangkaew breed dog to her.
She believed the puppy was lost or had been abandoned because there were no nearby homes or crowds, and she expressed concern that he would find it difficult to live in the woods.
Khemjira carried the puppy under her arm while she ran for an additional 19 kilometers, picking him up to make sure he was secure.
She may be seen racing among other racers while holding the dog in her arms, while other competitors grin and express their surprise.
She raised the dog briefly to show it to the bystanders.
Even so, she carried the dog across the finish line.
The puppy, who is just a few months old, has now been adopted by the shop owner, who gave him the name Chombueng after the marathon.
Khemjira said: ‘It seemed to me that this little guy was lost. There were no houses, no other dogs, or no people around. So, I picked up the puppy, if only to take him out of the unsafe environment.’
When she crossed the finish line, she made an unsuccessful attempt to locate the puppy’s owner. She brought him home and made another plea for the owner to come forward; however, there has been no response.
Along with the other two adult canines owned by Khemjira, Chombueng has now joined the family.
After winning, she made an unsuccessful attempt to locate the puppy’s owner. She took him home and made another request for the owner to come forward, but she hasn’t heard back.
Along with Khemjira’s other two adult canines, Chombueng has now joined the family.
Khemjira said: ‘Running almost 20 miles carrying dog was truly a challenge. It was two times tiring than a normal marathon but I did it anyway just because he is adorable.
‘It took a lot of time to take the new dog for checkups, vaccinations, and treatments but I’m glad to save him and willing to have him with other dog members in the family.
‘It might take a while for him to adapt himself. But Chombueng is a very smart boy. I’m sure he is going to be happy living with us.’
