In mid-February, Ozimar Queiroz and Lindomar Queiroz, tire repair workers, were taken aback when they arrived early to their shop on Estrada do Belmont in the North Zone of Porto Velho. There, they discovered an abandoned dog by the side of the road. The small and gentle creature had open paws and was unable to walk.

Moved by the dog’s plight, Ozimar, known as Galego, decided to take care of the dog temporarily until he could find someone to adopt him. However, despite their efforts, 20 days have passed, and the dog still hasn’t found a permanent home.

“They left him in front of the shop. When we arrived in the morning, he was just there. We felt terrible for him, so we brought him in and started feeding him. But unfortunately, he’s still in this predicament. He can’t walk because his two front legs are facing backward,” Galego explains.

Due to his immobility, the dog was affectionately named Seal by the tire repairmen. They move him around a few times during the day, but the dog often ends up dragging himself through the mud to be in the company of the only other animal around—a stray cat that roams the tire shop.

Lindomar Queiroz told G1 that the dog is gentle and in need of veterinary care, but they are unable to afford it.

“We named him Seal because of his appearance. When we found him, he was quite underweight, but he’s gaining weight now that we’re feeding him. Unfortunately, due to the rain, he gets all muddy, but we can’t do much about it here,” Lindomar declares.

Adoption

The story of the abandoned dog gained attention on social media, and Foca has finally found a new home with a couple from Porto Velho.

The tire repair workers took care of the pit bull, who they initially named Foca, for almost three weeks, providing him with food and water. Eventually, Michele, an economics student, fell in love with Foca’s plight and decided to adopt him, changing his name permanently.

“It was love at first sight. His condition touched me deeply. Helpless and yet so gentle and kind. I fell in love with him,” the student shared. “I love him. There’s no other way to describe it. I love him dearly. It’s a mother’s feeling.”