There are so many stray dogs out there, living on the street and fending for themselves.
While many dogs are ignored or shoved aside by the world, some find just the right people to help them, and will keep coming back to the same places.
And sometimes they’re provided with more than food and water—they’re given a job!
A dog named Negão was abandoned by his owners, and was left to fend for himself on the streets of Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil.
But in 2017, he found himself hanging around a then-under-construction Shell gas station owned by Sabrina Plannerer and her partner.
The owners fell for the dog, and decided to take it upon themselves to give him the care he desperately needed.
“We adopted him immediately and got him all the care animals need,” Sabrina told The Dodo. “We took him to the vet to get vaccinated and de-wormed. We bought him food, a dog house, and a leash to take him on walks.”
The dog was finally happy and safe. And when the Shell station finally opened, the owners decided to put their new friend to work:
They made Negão the official greeter of the gas station!
“Negão waits for people to arrive, and then goes up to say hello, winning them over with his charms,” Sabrina said. “Customers love him. Some people even bring him toys.”
He even got his very own employee ID badge, so you know it’s official:
Negão loved his job, but he wasn’t just working all the time: Sabrina says they still made sure go give him walks every day.
And in addition to being the cutest gas station employee in town, Negão got another job as the mascot for a local charity called Grupo FERA, giving back by helping to bring attention to stray animals in need.
“It’s been sensational, encouraging people to have more respect for animals,” a Grupo FERA spokesperson told The Dodo. “And workers enjoy having the companionship of a four-legged colleague.”
Negão brought joy into countless people’s lives and helped bring attention to the local stray population. Sadly, a year after getting his gas station job, Negão died in a car accident, according to Grupo FERA.
But his story still serves as a reminder of the difference a stray can make when he’s just shown a little kindness and love.
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