Hospital workers treat homeless man — then see his four dogs waiting for him at the door

For some people, their pets are the most important thing in the world. Even those who have little else prioritize their pets’ care above their own.

We’ve seen many stories of homeless people who, despite everything, have a close and loving bond with their dogs. And one heartwarming, viral story shows just how deep those bonds can be, as four loyal dogs waited for their owner when he was in the hospital.

Cris Mamprim, a healthcare worker in Brazil, shared the story on Facebook. She was working the late shift at the hospital, and at 3 am a homeless man named César came in to receive treatment for a preexisting medical condition.

Though the man had little else in the world, he wasn’t alone: the staff noticed that he had three dogs, who patiently and loyally waited by the door for him.

Cris was moved by the sight. “A simple person, without luxury, who depends on help to overcome hunger, the cold, the pain, the evils of the world, has the best companions by his side,” she wrote on Facebook (translated from Portuguese).

She wrote that the exchange of “love, affection, warmth and understanding” was reciprocal: she learned that César will often go hungry just to make sure his dogs have something to eat — and was later seen giving his hospital food to the pets.

“Believe me, he ate some and saved a bit to give the dogs later,” Cris told The Dodo, adding that the dogs were “all well taken care of and chubby.”

It’s a story that shows you can’t judge people based on their means, and that even people with nothing else in the world can be the most devoted pet owners.

“I don’t know what his life is like, why he’s on the street… but I admire the respect and love he has for his pets,” Cris wrote on Facebook. “Seeing them like this, waiting at the door, just shows how well cared for and loved they are.”

“If only everyone were like this,” she concluded, lamenting the “evil” and “mistreatment” that too many dogs face.