Joel Carpenter, the 23-year-old Portland man who flew halfway across the country to adopt a dog but lacked the money to get home, is safely back in Portland.

After media reports about Carpenter’s decision to fly to Minneapolis to adopt a 3-month-old collie-husky-German shepherd mix that he saw on an animal adoption site, support poured in for his journey home.

Carpenter set up a page on the crowdfunding site Gofundme, and within 24 hours, met his $500 goal.

Carpenter could not be reached Friday morning, but a Michigan television station confirmed that he landed in Portland about midnight.

An adoption ad for the dog, whom he named Sadie, had been posted on Petfinder.com. Carpenter said he fell immediately in love with the pup.

Carpenter, who is between jobs, said he spent about $300 for the flight to Minneapolis and about $175 to adopt the dog, leaving his bank account nearly empty.

Kind strangers gave him rides and bought him and his dog food, Carpenter said. He made it to Detroit before the unseen hand of Internet generosity provided for his travels home.

 


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