Brazilian Rescue Dog Becomes Internet Sensation & Police Mascot

Corporal Oliveira [Image @oliveira17bpm/Instagram]

The Internet often goes crazy over a cute rescue dog, captured on video doing funny things. However, in the case of a stray dog in Rio de Janeiro, taken in by a kind policeman, Corporal Oliviera even has his own Instagram account. Read on to find out more about this cute police mascot, including photos taken by the police officer who rescued him.

Rescue dog named Corporal Oliviera turns police mascot

Corporal Oliveira [Image @oliveira17bpm/Instagram]

The Internet is full of moving stories about rescued dogs and recently, a story came from Brazil about a dog who became a police mascot. Dubbed Corporal Oliveira, the dog was found by Cristiano Oliveira, a police officer in Rio de Janeiro. He found the dog in 2019 close to his police station, injured, abandoned and hungry.

Corporal Oliveira [Image @oliveira17bpm/Instagram]

Since that time, the rescue dog has become the official mascot of the 17th battalion of the Rio de Janeiro Military Police. Clad in a police uniform with sunglasses and a toy gun, the dog patrols the streets alongside his rescuer. He even runs alongside (and poses on) police motorbikes.

The making of Corporal Oliveira

Corporal Oliveira [Image @oliveira17bpm/Instagram]

Brazil policeman Cristiano Oliveira said one day, for a joke, he put a police shirt and a coat on his canine pal. He took a photo and sent it to their station’s roster groups, who posted them there. Following this, the joke started going viral online.

Corporal Oliveira [Image @oliveira17bpm/Instagram]

These days, Corporal Oliveira even has his own Instagram account with more than 117,000 followers. In fact, the officer laughed and told CNN, “If I don’t post a picture for three days people are already demanding ‘Where is Oliveira?’ ‘Where did Oliveira go?’”

Corporal Oliviera’s Instagram account can be seen here.

Dogs of Instagram

Corporal’s story reminds us of another rescue dog, this time in the south of Spain. An American Staffy was rescued as a puppy from a dog fighting ring and went on to become a unique canine pal. In fact, Homie the American Staffy has many friends living all over the world. His secret? He stands by his gate in the small town of La Cala de Mijas on the Costa del Sol, waiting for someone to throw his ball for him.

Homie the American Staffy in La Cala, Spain [Image @el_perro_de_la_pelota/Instagram]

Anyone heading down Calle Torremolinos in La Cala de Mijas will see Homie’s cute face as they walk by. Pictured here he has a ball in his mouth, sticking his face through a hole in the fence. While possibly thousands of people know him for his cute face, his Instagram account, @el_perro_de_la_pelota only has 442 followers.