A dog that was let out by its owners for a pee break joined a half-marathon for canines in the US and finished an impressive seventh in the race, making it an internet sensation.
Ludivine, a two-and-a-half year-old pet hound dog, snuck out of her owner's garden and joined runners at the start of the Trackless Train Trek Half Marathon.
Ludivine, a Bloodhound, lives in Elkmont, Alabama and after her owners let her out to relieve herself, she decided to join the race and ended up running the entire 13.1 miles.
She competed without human or leash. "Her owner doesn't even run! That's what makes the story even better," race director Gretta Armstrong was quoted as saying by CNN.
April Hamlin, the dog's owner, said she lives on a nearby farm and didn't know Ludivine joined the race until a friend called to tell her about her unsuspecting celebrity pet.
"Apparently she went to the race start and took off with the runners at the starting shot. She stayed with a few of the front runners, ran off to sniff some animal carcasses, romp in the water, and then back to the race. I understand she stayed on the course for 13.1 miles, finished seventh, and was the highest placed female," Hamlin said.
Ludivine finished seventh out of 165 runners in just under an hour and a half. Although not counted as an official participant in the race, the athletic dog was presented with a well-earned medal.
It is the first half marathon in Elkmont and the people who started it are parents of the kids who run cross country. They wanted to try and fundraise because our school system does not have a ton of money for cross country.
