A tiny baby squirrel was in rough shape when a family took him in. But thanks to a dedicated vet-in-training and one very gentle dog, the little orphan got a beautiful second chance.
A Rough Start For A Tiny Baby
Every morning at 7:30 in Florida, a dog named Millie takes her post by the glass door. She sits patiently, her eyes scanning the yard for a very specific visitor.
She isn’t waiting for the mail carrier or a neighborhood pup. Millie is waiting for her best friend, a wild squirrel named Esquilo.
The bond between the gentle dog and the tiny squirrel is nothing short of extraordinary. But their beautiful daily routine is the result of a desperate rescue mission that began months earlier.
The story began when Luiz’s daughter made a startling discovery in the yard. A tiny baby squirrel had fallen from a tree and was left completely vulnerable on the ground.
The little orphan was in pretty rough shape when they brought him inside. He was severely dehydrated and suffering from an infection in his right eye.
The family had never taken care of a wild animal before. They had no idea how to help a baby squirrel, but they knew they couldn’t just leave him to fend for himself.
The Vet-In-Training Steps Up
Fortunately, Luiz’s daughter has a passion for animals and dreams of becoming a veterinarian. She immediately took charge of the tiny creature’s recovery.
She spent hours researching exactly what a baby squirrel needed to survive. She took on the bulk of his care, carefully nursing him back from the brink.
Because Luiz is originally from Brazil, they decided to name the little survivor “Esquilo.” The name simply means squirrel in Portuguese.
An Unlikely Foster Mom
While the humans were busy figuring out formula and feeding schedules, the family dog decided to step in. For some reason, as soon as Millie saw the baby squirrel, she adopted him on the very first day.
Luiz admits he was initially cautious about letting a dog near such a fragile baby. But Millie proved to be incredibly careful with the tiny orphan.
“I wasn’t afraid of her hurting him,” Luiz recalled. Wherever Millie went in the house, the little squirrel would happily follow right behind her.
The Ultimate Co-Worker
As Esquilo grew stronger, he became deeply attached to Luiz, who worked from a home office. It was easy for Luiz to keep an eye on the squirrel while his daughter was at school.
The two became constant companions throughout the workday. Esquilo would sleep peacefully on Luiz’s lap while he typed at his desk.
Even when it was time to clean the house, the squirrel refused to be left behind. He would cling tightly to Luiz’s body as he moved from room to room.
Testing His Instincts
Despite how fast Esquilo became part of the family, Luiz knew he was a wild animal at heart. He needed to know if the squirrel was developing the skills he would need to survive outdoors.
One day, Luiz placed Esquilo on a tall wooden column in their living room. He wanted to see if the growing squirrel had the instinct and strength to climb.
Esquilo easily scaled the wood, proving his natural abilities were perfectly intact. It was a bittersweet moment, as Luiz realized the squirrel was finally healthy enough to be outside.
A Sleepless Night
The family made the difficult decision that Esquilo should live outside in their yard where he belonged. They released him into the trees, hoping they had prepared him well enough.
Letting go of the little creature they had saved was incredibly hard. Luiz admits he had a terrible, sleepless night worrying about how Esquilo was faring in the wild.
He wondered if the squirrel would know how to find food, or if he would ever see his tiny friend again.
The Morning Reunion
The very next morning, Luiz couldn’t wait any longer. By 7:00 a.m., he was already standing outside, calling Esquilo’s name into the trees to see if he would come.
To his absolute surprise and relief, the squirrel appeared. Esquilo ran right up to Luiz and happily jumped onto his shoulder.
“I almost cried that day when he came,” Luiz shared. They went straight inside to the sink, where Luiz happily prepared a syringe of formula for his returning friend.
A Beautiful Daily Routine
Today, Esquilo thrives in the wild, but he never forgot the family who saved him. He comes back to visit every single day, usually staying for an hour or two.
When he wants to go back outside to the trees, he simply hops onto Luiz’s head to give him the signal. Then, Luiz, Millie, and Esquilo all head out to the yard to play together.
“It’s not easy to be a squirrel dad, but I’m very grateful and thankful that he comes every day,” Luiz said. Watching the wild squirrel and the gentle dog play together is a daily reminder of just how beautiful a second chance can be.