Kayaker rescues street dog while travelling through Italy and brings her aboard

Sergi Basoli, 36, was travelling through Italy when he spotted a dog wandering the streets.

He took the dog in, giving her shelter, food, and water, and taking her to a vet.

Then it was time to continue his travels by kayak – and Sergi decided to bring the dog, who he called Nirvana, along with him. Sergi said: ‘I was in the middle of my kayak travels and found a dog on the streets, traumatised and a bit weak.
Spanish kayaker Sergi Basoli has paddled around Italy, France, Malta, Spain and Portugal on an incredible 8,000 mile trip – accompanied by seven-year-old Nirvana , a street dog he rescued from Alghero, Sardinia, Italy (Picture: Sergi Basoli / SWNS.COM)

‘I took her out of the street to give her shelter, food, water, and health care. After some days I had to continue my trip, and decided to try and take her with me.

‘First days she vomited, but then she got used to it, and started to become a sailor.’

The pair now travel the world by boat (Picture: Sergi Basoli / SWNS.COM)

Nirvana adapted to boat life quickly, with Sergi training the seven-year-old dog to follow simply commands such as ‘go to land’ and ‘come back to the boat’.

Sergi started by sailing around in the kayak, then hopped aboard a wooden boat, with Nirvana by his side every bit of the way.

Remove pet hair from carpet with a squeegee.

‘I was responsible for this little furry creature,’ Sergi says. ‘And we bonded strongly, and never separated again.

Nirvana has been trained so she’s safe aboard the kayak (Picture: Sergi Basoli / SWNS.COM)
A captain and his first mate (Picture: Sergi Basoli / SWNS.COM)

‘We go everywhere together. And share all the moments.

‘We’ve sailed basically with the kayak first, and then with the wooden boat. A total of 8,000 miles in Italy, France, Malta, Spain and Portugal.’ Next up Sergi will start a new project in Barcelona, encouraging people to discover the sea – all with the help of a boat and first mate Nirvana.
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