They’re best friends ❤️
A few months ago, Luiz Simoes, a resident of Austin, Texas, was caught completely off guard when his 16-year-old daughter walked into their home carrying a tiny baby squirrel.
The squirrel had fallen from his nest, and Simoes’ daughter — an aspiring veterinarian — was determined to save him.
When Simoes saw the baby’s condition, he knew they couldn’t just turn him away.
“He was in pretty rough shape,” Simoes said.
“He was dehydrated and had an infection in his right eye.”
Nursing a Wild Baby Back to Health
Simoes and his daughter immediately got to work caring for the fragile squirrel. They gave him fluids, cleaned his eye, and monitored him closely as he slowly began to recover.
They named him Esquilo, the Portuguese word for “squirrel.”
At first, the goal was simple: get Esquilo healthy enough to survive.
But something unexpected happened along the way.
A Bond Forms During Work-From-Home Days
Simoes works from home, which meant that while the rest of the family was out during the day, he and Esquilo spent hours together.
Esquilo quickly grew comfortable around him — curling up in his lap, climbing onto his shoulders, and even sitting on his head.
Before long, Simoes realized he had grown deeply attached.
“He would just sit with me for hours,” Simoes said.
“It was impossible not to love him.”
The Family Dog “Adopts” the Squirrel
Even more surprising was Esquilo’s relationship with another family member: the dog, Millie.
“For some reason, as soon as Millie saw the baby, she adopted him the first day,” Simoes said.
At first, Simoes was nervous about letting a dog interact with such a tiny wild animal. But Millie seemed to instinctively understand that Esquilo was fragile.
She was gentle, patient, and protective.
“I wasn’t afraid of her hurting him,” Simoes said.
Soon, the two became inseparable.
Wherever Millie went, Esquilo followed — climbing over her, running beside her, and curling up against her fur.
Setting Him Free — And Getting the Best Surprise
As Esquilo grew bigger and stronger, the family knew the time had come to let him return to the wild.
One afternoon, Simoes released Esquilo into the backyard, unsure if he would ever see him again.
But the very next day, something unbelievable happened.
“By my surprise, he showed up,” Simoes said.
“I almost cried that day he came back.”
Still Family, Just Living Outdoors
Now, Esquilo lives outside — where he belongs — but he still visits the family daily.
Every morning, Millie waits by the window, asking to be let out so she can play with her best friend.
Though Esquilo is now a wild squirrel again, he clearly remembers the humans and dog who saved his life.
And for the Simoes family, he’ll always be more than just a squirrel.
He’s family. 🐿️🐶❤️