When the homeless man who cared for Negao was rushed to a hospital in Santa Catarina, Brazil, the dog followed the ambulance the whole way. Negao waited patiently outside the hospital, but his owner was never coming back out. Negao refused to budge.

He continued waiting for eight months, until finally, he was adopted. But he soon ran away from his new owners and returned to the hospital grounds. A different family adopted him, but again, Negao ran away and returned to the hospital.

A local animal charity eventually came up with a compromise. Negao would remain at his post, and they would return to the site daily to feed him and walk him. “As long as he remains here, we will give all the care, warmth and love he needs,” the hospital office says.