A man has been reunited with his beloved pooch after they were separated a year ago during a cycling trip.
Remy Dargere set off from his home in Lyon, France, with Raika on a bike trip around Europe at the beginning of 2023.
He even designed a special basket to tow behind him where his one-year-old Border Collie could sit.
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However, while travelling through Greece near the border with Turkey, Raika was attacked by a pack of stray dogs.
She ran away on 7 April last year after being set upon.
Remy spent weeks trying to find her in Greece without any luck.
After a year, he was stunned to receive a call from an animal shelter in Serbia, over 1,000 miles from where he last saw her.
Raika was found by members of the Beba Alts animal protection association in Loznica in western Serbia.
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She spent three months at the shelter as a stray and was due to be put up for adoption.
However, an unusual number on her microchip prompted volunteer Danijela Vujanić to investigate.
She explained: “As I was typing in her chip number, an ad popped up about a search for her.
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“It included a photo of her wearing a baseball cap with her owner.
“When I called the number of the possible owner, Remy answered.
“We sent photos and so on, realised it was her, and arranged for him to collect his dog.”
Remy said: “I spent a month looking for her in Greece and then realised that she wasn’t there, that she must have gone somewhere further away if she was still alive.
“That’s why I posted an ad on social media.
“Raika is a family member to me, not just a dog.
“I would look for her as long as I live.”
He added: “As long as there are dogs in the world, we have a reason to believe in miracles.”
Remy travelled to Serbia to reunite with his lost pooch last week, as reported by What’s The Jam.
He said: “She recognised me straight away.
“We were both surprised when we saw each other, but she came straight up to me and kissed me.
“I can’t describe this feeling to you.
“I never lost hope of finding her.”
He added: “She was apparently trying to make her way back to France.”
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