A few months ago in Austin, USA, Luiz Simoes's routine was turned upside down when his 16-year-old daughter came home with a tiny squirrel in her arms. The little animal had just fallen from its nest and seemed to be in a bad way. As an aspiring vet, the teenager immediately wanted to help him.
When he saw the state of the small mammal, Luiz Simoes didn't hesitate for a second. The squirrel was dehydrated and had an infection in his right eye. The father and daughter began to care for him together and named him Esquilo, which is Portuguese for "squirrel".
Nursed with patience... and a lot of love
Over the following days, Esquilo slowly regained his strength. Luiz Simoes, who works from home, spent many hours with him while the rest of the family was out. The little squirrel loved to snuggle on his lap, climb on his head, and stay close to him for hours on end.
But Esquilo didn't just form a strong bond with his carer. To everyone's surprise, he also quickly grew close to another member of the family: Millie, the family dog.
From their very first meeting, Millie seemed to adopt the baby squirrel. At first, Luiz Simoes was a little apprehensive, fearing that an accident might happen. However, the dog showed remarkable gentleness, as if she instinctively understood how fragile the little animal was.
An unlikely friendship between a dog and a squirrel
As Esquilo grew, their bond became obvious. The two animals played together, ran around the house, and spent their days side by side. Millie would let him climb all over her, and Esquilo would follow her everywhere she went.
When the squirrel was strong enough to survive on his own, the family made a difficult but necessary decision: to set him free. One afternoon, Esquilo was released into the garden, and they were unsure if they would ever see him again.
But against all odds, the squirrel was back the next morning. The scene moved Luiz Simoes so deeply that it almost brought him to tears. Today, Esquilo lives outside like any wild animal, but he continues to visit the family every day. Each morning, Millie waits by the window, eagerly awaiting her friend's return.
