Fundraising Effort Reaches £18K to Retrieve Beloved Pet Dog Named Paddington from UK
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Meet Paddington, the Peruvian stray dog that has stolen the heart of a British backpacker and her community. Mirelle Radley, a 29-year-old research scientist from Cambridge, fell in love with the skinny, matted Shepherd-mix during her travel through South America in April.
While lounging in a hammock in the village of Ollantaytambo, Mirelle felt a nip on her arm and was surprised to find a stray mutt vying for her attention. Immediately smitten, she named him Paddington after the beloved fictional bear.
To her dismay, Mirelle's stay in the Sacred Valley was only meant to last five days, but leaving Paddington behind was an unthinkable option. So, she made the decision to bring her new canine companion back to the UK.
Determined to make Paddington's journey as smooth as possible, Mirelle temporarily housed him while he underwent necessary vet checks, including blood tests and vaccinations. The duo is currently counting the days until August, when they will be reunited in the UK.
News of Paddington's cross-continental adventure has captured the hearts of thousands, with Mirelle's GoFundMe campaign raising £18,000 to cover the costs of tests, paperwork, and full veterinary check-ups. With some funds remaining, Mirelle plans to fly another rescue dog to a woman in Germany.
Speaking about the incredible outpouring of support, Mirelle said, "People seem to have been really moved, and it's really very kind of everybody to want to take time out of their day and money out of their pocket to donate to help that little dog get home, and also other dogs get homes."
Throughout the process, Mirelle and Paddington have received assistance from Colitas Con Canas, a local sanctuary for dogs. Paddington is currently staying with a woman named Natalia at a boarding house while he undergoes a quarantine period before leaving Peru.
Enrichment Data:
Paddington's rescue journey from Peru to the UK has been going on for about two months as of mid-June 2025. Mirelle and Paddington's GoFundMe campaign, which was shared on TikTok, has received widespread support and raised over £18,000. Recent updates indicate that Paddington is progressing well throughout the rescue and adoption process in Peru, learning his name and showing signs of bonding and happiness with Mirelle. However, as of June 17, 2025, there is no publicly confirmed report that Paddington has yet arrived in the UK.
In the evolving saga of Paddington, the stray dog from Peru, Mirelle Radley's resilient commitment to their cross-continental journey has extended the length of their journey to around two months as of mid-June 2025. Aside from Paddington, Mirelle intends to utilize some remaining funds from their successful GoFundMe campaign to facilitate the travel of another rescue dog to a loving home in Germany, merging the loves of love-and-dating, relationships, and pets with the zeal for travel and adventure.
