Brazil: Here’s Why Police Dog, Corporal Oliveira, Is Going Viral

From a hungry and injured stray to becoming an internet sensation, the Brazilian police dog known as "Corporal Oliveira" has captured the hearts of many, not just in Brazil but the whole world.

The dog is now serving as the official mascot of the Rio de Janeiro Military Police's 17th Battalion. However, while he does not attack and chase after criminals or do heroic drug busts like most other police dogs, Corporal Oliveira does patrol the streets of Rio de Janeiro alongside his partner and rescuer, Rio police officer Cristiano Oliveira.

Officer Cristiano Oliveira Found Corporal Oliveira Near a Rio Police Station

CNN reported that Corporal Oliveira is a rescue, with his rescuer, Officer Cristiano Oliveira, finding him abandoned, injured, and hungry near a police station. He took the poor dog in, and a few years later, that dog became an internet darling.

These days, Corporal Oliveira can be seen alongside his partner/rescuer and running alongside motorbikes.

Pictures of the dog have been posted all over the internet, with major news sources like CNN and Reuters taking notice of Corporal Oliveira's popularity and adorability. People just could not get enough of the lovable and furry "corporal" as he serves the Rio de Janeiro Military Police.

This all started as a joke, as Officer Oliveira admitted.

"I took a coat, a police shirt, and put it on him as a joke. I took a picture and sent it to our station's roster groups and posted them there," he said.

Now, that joke has gone so viral that Corporal Oliveira now has his own Instagram account with over 117,000 followers: not bad for a former stray surviving in the mean streets of Rio.

Another Stray Dog Serving as a Mascot for Firefighters in Brazil Also Went Viral

In another neighborhood in Rio, just a few miles away from where Corporal Oliveira is serving, another dog has gone viral for serving as the official mascot for the Catete Fire Brigade.

Known as Caramello, this firedog was also a rescue. Firefighters from the brigade found him injured across the iconic Sugarloaf Mountain nearly a year ago. Since then, they have taken care of him and have even set up his own Instagram page with tens of thousands of followers.

According to Yahoo! News, at 11 years of age, Caramello is much older and less adventurous than Corporal Oliveira, but he does help in the fire brigade spreading some important messages to the people of Rio.

"Caremello is a real digital influencer," said Maj. Fabio Contreiras. He said the firedog used his social media clout to promote cancer awareness, as well as to encourage donations for victims of natural disasters. The popular "social media influencer" dog also helped other rescue dogs and cats find new homes.

However, with their new-found fame, their "partners" have found some fans to be very demanding, often asking for pictures of the dogs. Officer Oliveira admitted that his partner's Instagram page would receive around 200 messages a day from people asking about Corporal Oliveira.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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