A stray dog has become an internet sensation after completing a 1700 km run joining a team of cyclists in cycle race cross China from Sichuan province to Tibet.
The dog, nicknamed as "Xiao Sa", joined a group of cyclists after one of the cyclists, Zhang Heng, gave him food. Zhang Heng a student in Wuhan, Hubei province and his friends were cycling to Lhasa when they met the stray dog on G318 in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
They didn't have any information on how the dog came to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
"She was lying tired on the street around Yajiang, Sichuan province. So we fed her, and then she followed our team," Heng told China Daily.
Heng initially thought that the dog was following them for fun but the dog stayed with them for all 20 days until they completed their trip. The dog ran with them covering up to 60 km a day and climbing 12 mountains.
"We felt she might want to come along with us, so we decided to bring her along to the end," Heng told China Daily
"Many people stopped cycling in some sections, then took the bus, but the dog made it," he added.
Heng and his friends opened a micro blogging account and started writing about Xiaosa's adverntures, which attracted more than 35,000 followers within two weeks.
Calling the dog a 'buddy and a friend', Heng said that he would like to adopt the dog and take her home.
"I would like to take the dog home and take care of her. She has been a stray on the road for a long time. She needs a home," Heng said.
