From the archives: This story was last updated in April 2019.
There is a homeless man in Rio do Sul in south Brazil who often sacrifices his own food to feed the stray dogs around him. At a time when he suddenly required emergency treatment, his kindness came back to him like a boomerang, for the faithful canines he had been feeding made sure he wasn’t alone in his time of need.The stray dogs’ incredible loyalty was witnessed by nurse Cris Mamprim and her colleagues shortly after the homeless man, known only as César, arrived at the emergency room of Hospital Regional Alto Vale in Rio do Sul, Brazil, on Dec. 9, 2018, at about 3 a.m. to seek treatment and medication for a pre-existing health condition he had been battling.
It was César’s first time to go to Hospital Regional Alto Vale for treatment, as he normally goes to another health facility in town. Thus, Mamprim and her colleagues had no idea about César’s condition, nor his background.
But not before long, they realized that he had a gang of canines accompanying him.
Four concerned strays had showed up at the entrance of the hospital and were waiting for César.
They were most concerned about their homeless master, who the nurses soon learned had been for some time forgoing his own meals to feed these strays.
“A simple person, without luxury, who depends on help to overcome the hunger, the cold, the pain, the evils of the world, has by his side the best companions, and the exchange is reciprocal.”
“An exchange of love, affection, warmth, understanding. A person who confessed to us that he stops eating to feed them,” Mamprim continued. Speaking to The Dodo, Mamprim said, “They are all well taken care of and chubby.”
The faithful canines were anxiously anticipating César’s safe return. Fortunately, the animals reunited with their owner in no time.
Not wanting to keep César and his companions apart, the staff let the dogs inside after giving the homeless man the medication he needed. They even offered some food to César.
“Believe me, he ate some and saved a bit to give the dogs later,” Mamprim recalled.
An hour later, César left the hospital with the four dogs trailing behind, happily wagging their tails.
“I do not know what his life is like, or why he’s on the street, but I admire the respect and love he has for his little animals,” Mamprim concluded. “Seeing them like this, waiting at the door, just shows how much they are well cared for and loved. Oh if everyone was like this…. if there was no evil, mistreatment.”
Mamprim’s post tugged at the heartstrings of many, racking up more than 136,000 reactions and over 24,000 comments.
“Most beautiful thing!!” one user wrote.
Another commented, “Thank you for taking care of them.”
Even though César has little material possessions and likely has no kin to turn to, he is never alone because he has a warm, loving heart.
