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Last September, Rocía H. was aimlessly scrolling through Instagram when she came across a story that made her stop cold. It was a photo of a golden-furred dog named Quesito. He had the kind of smile you couldn’t ignore. He was looking for a home, and even though Rocía was still deep in grief over her beloved dog Whiskey, who had just passed, something about this dog spoke to her in a way she couldn’t explain.
“When I saw his face, I felt something so special inside of me, like a gut feeling,” Rocía said in an interview with The Dodo. “I fell in love with him in just a second.”
Still, she hesitated. Losing Whiskey had left her heartbroken, and she never imagined herself adopting again. She tried to let the moment pass, putting down her phone and walking away. But she kept going back to Quesito’s photo. After the third or fourth time, she finally gave in and filled out the adoption form.
“I thought, ‘Well, I’m just going to fill this out, but the post has so many likes and shares and comments that I really don’t think they’ll choose me,’” she said.
Just a few hours later, she got a message from Yarha, the head of Canhijos TJ. Not only had her application been noticed, but she was approved for an interview. Yarha shared more about Quesito’s story. He was one of 11 puppies, and while some had already found homes, Quesito still hadn’t. He was friendly, affectionate, and loved everyone. But there was one pup he loved most.
“She said, ‘I know this is too much to ask because it’s a really big responsibility to take on, but I have to let you know that Quesito is really close and bonded with one of his siblings, Limón. Ideally, we would love for them to be adopted together, but it’s 100% not an obligation or imposition. I just felt like you needed to know,’” Rocía recalled.
At first, it felt overwhelming. Rocía had barely made peace with the idea of adopting one dog, let alone two. But when she saw a photo of Limón, that same feeling returned. Something clicked.
my beautiful boys love each other so much 😭 (they’re brothers)
byu/Rociahgar inaww
“I couldn’t resist falling in love with him as well,” she said. “So, I told her [that if] I got approved for adoption, I wanted both, together.”
Shortly after, Rocía was approved and officially welcomed Quesito and Limón into her life. Her senior dog, Cual, and her cat, Horchata, welcomed the newcomers without fuss. Her parents were just as smitten. The two pups adjusted quickly and never strayed far from one another, always resting side by side or paw-in-paw.
Limón, with his long legs, quickly became known for his hugs. “My mom is a therapist, and Limón always gives emotional support to her patients, mostly by hugging,” Rocía said.
Today, both Quesito and Limón have become emotional support animals. They’ve helped patients, bonded with their fellow pets, and most of all, helped Rocía find her way back to joy.
“Quesito and Limón came into my life at a very unpredictable time, when I wasn’t even considering having another dog after my loss, but they showed me that love is possible again,” she said. “I’m glad I paid attention and listened to my heart.”
