Australian sailor Tim Shaddock has decided to part ways with his dog after the pair returned to shore on Tuesday following more than two months lost at sea.
The two were found by a Mexican tuna boat over the weekend after drifting over 1,000 miles in the Pacific Ocean following a storm.
Shaddock met Bella in Mexico prior to the tumultuous journey, and he says he tried to find her a home on more than occasion, though she continued to follow him out to sea.
“She’s amazing, that dog is something else, I’m a bit biased but yeah,” Shaddock said.
“Bella seemed to have found me in the middle of Mexico, she’s Mexican, she is the spirit of the middle of the country and she wouldn’t let me go.
“I tried to find a home for her maybe three times and she just kept following me out into the water. She’s a beautiful animal and I’m just grateful she’s alive.
“She’s a lot more braver than I am, that’s for sure.”
V
The dog isn’t being given away to just anyone. Shaddock gave Bella to one of the crew member’s of the Maria Delia, the ship that rescued the pair at sea.
All that the 51-year-old has asked is that she receive good care.
Shaddock and his journey
Shaddock‘s journey began in April when he tried to sail across the Pacific Ocean to French Polynesia.
Unfortunately for him, his catamaran was damaged by a heavy storm a month in.
With the boat’s electronics no longer working, Shaddock passed his time by swimming and fixing things on board. He was able to survive on supplies he packed and fish he caught.
“I did a lot of fishing,” Shaddock said. “I took a lot of stuff with me, too, good provisions, I mean I lost my cooking along the way so there was a lot of tuna sushi, but it was enough.
“I’m still very skinny, by the time I came here to the fishing boat I was just eating so much food.”
He was saved when a helicopter spotted his boat 1,200 mile offshore, which alerted the Maria Delia.
The owner of the Maria Delia, Grupomar, says the boat was likely heading for retirement prior to the rescue. but that its gotten a “marvelous farewell, saving human lives.”