Remember Jefferson, the presumed stray black Labrador Retriever who was walking nearly 2,000 kilometers across South America in a bid to get to Brazil for the 2014 World Cup? Well, it turns out that the dog’s real owner has discovered the free-spiriting hound’s latest jape and contacted his temporary walking guardians to arrange a reunion.
Also, his real name is Negro rather than the grandiose (and soccer-referential) Jefferson Ramsey Moore.
Having endeared himself to his traveling companions with his dirty puddle-jumping ways, Jefferson’s four human walking pals will part ways with him after he completes his journey to the Estadio Beira-Rio this Sunday.
Writing on Facebook, the group of English footie fans who are embarking on the epic stroll for charity said, “We are filled with mixed emotions, we now know we will definitely have to say goodbye to our loyal companion so are understandably gutted and it will be a very emotional goodbye on Monday. It is in many ways the perfect end to the story. Jefferson was not a stray dog — he just really wanted to go on an adventure with four crazy English lads.”
The updated post continues to add: “Something we always discussed on the road is what Jefferson’s story was, what was he like as a puppy and where did he grow up? Now we will get his full story when we meet Nacho [his owner] on Monday. Nacho kindly sent us some Jefferson puppy pictures, and he has to be the cutest thing we have ever seen.”
Nothing like a good ol’ canine World Cup miracle!
You can donate to Jefferson’s cause via the JustGiving website
