Move Over Arthur, There is a New AR Dog in Our Hearts
By Mary Foster
So many of us find ourselves retelling our race stories for years (and years), carrying those moments long beyond the finish line. This year, the volunteers and race directors for the 2025 Two Rivers Adventure Race have a new story to share — one that definitely won’t ever be forgotten.
Some of you might remember a post from early Saturday morning, just a couple of hours after the race began. It hinted at a potential new “Arthur” tale unfolding. While setting CP3 along the Cooper River, a small unhomed puppy appeared and found Brent. While shaking uncontrollably, tail tucked with hesitation, the puppy asked for comfort….almost downright begged for it. He was clearly malnourished and showed signs of having endured some difficult days.
Soon after, I (Mary Foster) arrived, we tried offering him a few small dog treats. With some coaxing, he eventually seemed to realize we weren’t going to abandon him and started accepting food vs just the intriguing need for human connection.
After some back-and-forth about what to do, it became obvious: this puppy had a name, and he wasn’t going to spend another day hungry or alone. It’s funny how natural it felt to name him almost immediately — and how quickly the instinct to protect him kicked in. Somewhat similar to “Arthur”, it truly felt as if he approached Brent because he somehow knew this was the path to his new life.
Cooper River was officially born. Cooper was Brent’s suggestion, because we found him along the Cooper River, and River was mine, after the race itself: Two Rivers.
When I left CP3, I loaded Cooper into the van and promised him we’d figure things out. Later that morning, Nick Hurff took him for a bath and to remove all his ticks, which took about eight shampoos! The puppy who came back was not the one who left. He returned with Philly gear, a bag of snacks, and even a new stuffed lamb friend. Cooper’s day just kept getting better.
He spent the rest of the race hanging out in the adventure van and at the TAs, cycling through food, comfort, and naps. Racers adored him, and volunteers outright competed for turns to hold him as he slept in their warm, safe arms. He handled Adventure Racing shenanigans like a champ. Watching him transform from a terrified, shaking puppy to one with fewer tail tucks, some wagging, and no real trembling was incredible. Almost like it was meant to be…
During spare moments, I combed through Facebook lost and found groups in Camden and surrounding communities, curious if someone might be searching for him. I didn’t hold out much hope but was worth checking in to.
After the post-race awards, Nick was walking Cooper around and happened to strike up a conversation with Wilo Nater. Wilo and his son had recently started the search for a new dog… and, well the rest is history.
Cooper River you’re one of us now. Welcome to the adventure racing community!
