For many homeless individuals, their pets provide comfort and companionship, making their difficult situation more bearable. However, when a homeless person ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇs ill or hospitalized, ensuring their pets are cared for properly can be challenging. There is no shortage of tales about the loyalty of dogs, and heartwarming snaps like these prove just how affectionate they are. When a homeless man in Brazil was taken to the hospital, the medics thought he was alone. But little did everyone know, he had some of the greatest, caring, and loyal friends waiting for him in front of the hospital.
For nearly 20 years, Luiz lived on the streets of Cianorte City in Paraná, Brazil. Though without a family, he was never alone as his furry friends were always by his side, even during his most difficult times. One night, the man suffered a sᴛʀᴏᴋᴇ. Fortunately, some passersby noticed he was having some sᴇᴠᴇʀᴇ problems, and they called for an ambulance. Luiz was rushed to the hospital a few minutes later, but his worried friends never left him alone.
The six dogs Luiz was caring for chased the ambulance all the way to the hospital, and when they got there, they just laid the ground in front of the entry and patiently waited for their human to get better. The moment was captured on camera and has gone viral ever since.
When the workers at the hospital noticed the dogs were not leaving, they called the volunteers at the Amigos de Patas Cianorte – a nonprofit animal welfare – to look after them. But none of the dogs wanted to leave the place, so they continued to wait for Luiz.
“He lives with his pals and treats them very well; he shares everything with them,” Amigos de Patas Cianorte wrote on Facebook. “That night he had a sᴛʀᴏᴋᴇ… his friends of paws accompanied him, and they waited for him in front of the hospital. There they remain in vigil.”
Meanwhile, the hospitalized man was unaware of what had happened to his beloved pets.
The next day in the morning, Luiz was released from the hospital, but he got out of a different door – without knowing his loyal friends were waiting for him.
“The dogs were desperate,” Simone Ziliane, a volunteer with Amigos de Patas Cianorte, told Brazilian publication G1. “On Thursday morning, when Luiz was discharged and left with his brother through another door, the dogs remained at the hospital entrance. One of the volunteers from the NGO had to fetch Luiz at his brother’s house and take him to where the dogs were for them to leave the front.” Ultimately, Luiz and his caring friends have been reunited!
The story of this homeless man and his dogs highlights the importance of pets in the lives of homeless individuals. For many homeless people, their pets are their most essential companions, providing them with unconditional love and support. However, when these individuals ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ill or hospitalized, ensuring their pets are cared for properly can be a challenge. This is where the kindness and compassion of others can make a world of difference.