Stray Dog Wouldn’t Leave Car Dealership, Until Salesman Decided To Do the Unexpected

For days, the manager at a Hyundai dealership noticed a mysterious dog sitting outside the building. Finally, he decided to let the canine into his place of work. Little did he know what his decision would lead to...

A Strange Visitor

It was just like any other normal day at the Hyundai car dealership in Brazil. The salesman had started his morning the way he typically does, unaware of how much his work-life was about to change.

The manager working at the Hyundai dealership, Emerson Mariano, noticed that there was a strange dog sitting outside of the building. He had no idea who the owner was or why he was sitting there. But he didn't think too much about it. For now, at least.

Community Pets

In Brazil, it is arguably well known that stray dogs are extremely common. So it wasn't too out of the ordinary for Mariano to see the dog all alone. In fact, it is so normalized that the citizens have a name for such animals. They call these stray puppies "community pets." 

The name might have come to be because many residents living in the country tried to help these helpless animals who sadly have no shelter, food, or love. Even the dealership manager himself had been known to lend out a helping hand when it came to these strays.

Facing the Facts

Although to some, Mariano may sound a bit insensitive for the fact that he dismissed the canine sitting all alone outside of his place of work, he was anything but. Previous to this incident, he had taken in two other dogs that had no family. He was extremely empathic to their situation.

But he knew that he could hardly keep up with the payments he had with the two other canines, so helping out another would make things more difficult for him. Even though he might have wanted to, he couldn't afford or manage to help all 30 million stray dogs in Brazil.

Ignoring The Signs

That's why the manager decided to not give the dog any food, or else he would continue to return. Or at least that's what he thought. But as it turned out, no matter how much he ignored it, that poor pup had some kind of attachment to the Hyundai dealership.

For a few days, Mariano tried to go on about his normal routine, but each morning that strange dog was still sitting in the same spot. He had not budged. And although he had said he would put his foot down and ignore the sad puppy's eyes, he simply couldn't.

Giving In

He debated giving the dog some food. But Mariano was also concerned that if he allowed the canine into his store, he may be too loud or aggressive and potentially scare away many customers. And since it was a car dealership, having people inside was very important to the business's success...

Once again, he attempted to shoo the dog away, but after seeing just how persistent the animal was, Mariano eventually gave in and chose to help him out. He simply couldn't continue saying no to those pleading eyes that stared him down every day as he walked into the car showroom.

A Blooming Friendship

The plan was to maybe help out the unnamed dog for a couple of days until he could find a new place to go. But Mariano had no idea what was going to happen after he finally allowed that animal into the dealership that he was supposed to be in charge of...

After taking him in, Mariano realized that maybe he would need some warmth in the breezy dealership. So he ran out to his car to check his trunk for an extra blanket. And he was in luck! But that was one easy step - things for Mariano and the dog were just getting started.

Making Friends

Because it was bright and early in the morning, the other employees at the Hyundai dealership were just started to pull in and clock in for their shifts. One by one, they all started to meet their new furry friend, who was still wagging around without a name.

Things were looking good - that was until a few customers shopping for a car started to trickle in. The employees could see from the clear glass that surrounded the building that one person was headed their way with their own dog. They held their breath, curious as to how the stray would act.

An Unexpected Introduction

But the employees had no reason to be worried or nervous because the two canines quickly got well acquainted and were behaving well with one another. Their friendship even made Mariano start to giggle, thinking about how he and his workers had been so scared before.

The customer with the dog asked Mariano who the owner of the stray dog was. The manager then explained that they had no idea and she was a stray that was lurking around the building. The man then oddly started at the unknown canine again in a weird way and started to shake his head.

Heightened Emotions

All the salesmen were confused as to what was going on. Why was the customer looking at the stray dog in such a way? They had more and more questions, especially when, all of a sudden, the man had tears rolling down his cheek as he looked at the canine.

The reaction made Mariano take a step back. He was in shock. Was it possible that he had known the dog before? He asked the customer if everything was all alright, and the crying man quickly apologized. Mariano had no idea how to go about the situation.

An Explanation

Mariano had worked at the dealership for years, and never before had he encountered a time where he had no idea what to do. So he decided to grab a glass of water for the sobbing customer, hoping he would start to feel better - and maybe explain why he was so emotional.

After a couple of minutes, the customer began to wipe around his tears and return to his normal state. Finally, he was able to explain to the dealership manager and the rest of the workers what had happened. He started telling them how, for a while now, he had been struggling personally - and the stray dog pushed him to the edge.

His Devastating Story

As he continued talking, Mariano heard an unbelievable tale. A few weeks prior, the customer's mother had sadly passed away, and ever since then, things just became exceptionally worse. Not only did he have to deal with his grief, but also with his late mom's estate.

Through his loss and suffering, this man was in charge of packing up her house and putting all of her belongings away in brown boxes. It wasn't easy having to put his mom's life into a few bags and boxes, especially since he himself couldn't keep it all. Instead, he gave it to charity.

Following the Signs

The only thing that he had left of his mother was her car. The same one that he had been sitting in as he made his way to the Hyundai dealership just that morning. He explained to Mariano that as he was waiting for a light to turn green, he asked the universe for a sign.

He was at a low point in his life, and he felt like that was his only option. He didn't know where to go or what to do, but for some reason, he drove around and found himself entering the parking lot of the Hyundai dealership. Little did he know how that decision would change his life.

Too Many Coincidences

Coincidentally the man's late mom, Rose, had her very own dog. And oddly enough, that canine looked almost exactly the same as the stray dog sitting across from him at the dealership that day. He was in disbelief that the universe really gave him a signal.

But his story didn't end there... in fact, it just continued, shocking Mariano. After Rose's husband passed away, she decided to rescue an animal so she could have a cuddly pal to keep her company. Over the years, the dog she picked ended up helping her more than she could have imagined.

Finding Their Way To Each Other

At the shelter where Rose went to get a dog, she learned the story of how the one she took home ended up being abandoned. The workers explained to the recent widow that they actually weren't sure where the dog had come from - all they knew was that he was mute.

They had yet to hear a sound come out of the dog's mouth. It was perfect for Rose because she had just settled into a new apartment building, and she was in no need of getting on her new neighbor's bad side, thanks to a barking dog. It was a sweet story... or at least that's what Mariano had thought. 

Tragedy Strikes

That same evening, the customer's mother had felt a migraine come on, so she had planned to go to bed early. But before doing so, she, of course, checked up on her new canine, and then finally, she planned to rest and get a good night's sleep. But her tiredness had caused Rose to miss something.

The dog couldn't sleep because he was aware that something was wrong in the house. Sadly his owner couldn't help because, by that point, she was in REM sleep. Rose would only find out what happened the next morning… After it had all been shared on the local news channel.

Up In Flames

Throughout the night, the apartment building that Rose and the dog were unfortunately in had caught on fire. Quickly, it blew up into flames. And before they knew it, the whole complex was burned to the ground. Luckily for Rose, she had rescued a helpful dog earlier that day.

After realizing they were in danger, the canine rushed to Rose's bed and attempted to wake her up. Thankfully she felt the dog, and she woke up before it was too late. She and the dog got out of there just in time. If she hadn't taken him home with her, who knows what would have happened to Rose...

A Girl's Best Friend

For an entire eight years, the dog and Rose happily lived together. He was her whole heart, and they didn't do anything without each other. After that one awful night, their bond had become unbreakable. Until one day, he sadly passed away, leaving Rose all alone.

Mariano almost had tears in his own eyes at this point. But what the customer revealed to him next definitely took the crown of the most shocking part of the story: when the man first laid his eyes on the stray dog in the dealership, he instantly noticed the car behind him.

Tucson Prime

He was sitting beside a Tucson Prime Hyundai model. Coincidentally, Rose's late dog was Tucson, so the sign instantly made him emotional, hence why he started to cry. Not only did the stray dog look just like his late mom's, but the car he was next to had the same name!

The customer knew that what he was saying must have sounded crazy to Mariano, so to prove to him that he "wasn't crazy," he asked the dealership manager to come outside with him. Mariano accepted and together they walked out to the man's car. Next, they opened the trunk...

What Next?

Inside the car were the many boxes he had previously packed up, all filled with things from his mom's house. And inside, he found a blue dog collar with a metal tag that was engraved with the name "Tucson." Mariano's jaw was on the floor - there was no way!

The two men went back inside to discuss what they should do with the stray dog. While it seemed like it was expected that the customer take him home, he explained that he had already rescued three other dogs, and unfortunately, he was unable to take in one more.

Weighing the Options

Mariano felt like he needed to take charge and do something to help the stray dog. After hearing the touching story, he was moved to ensure this stray dog had a comfortable and safe place to live. He thought it was destiny that he had walked up to his dealership.

The Hyundai manager knew neither he nor the customer was able to care for the canine since both of their homes were already filled with other dogs. But Mariano did know of a place that had loads of room. And all of a sudden, a great idea popped into his head.

A New Door Opens

For years, the company Mariano worked at had claimed that they were pet-friendly. So what better way to show that than to allow a stray dog to call a Hyundai dealership home? Mariano thought that maybe the animal could stay and live at his place of work.

If it was up to him, the dog would have moved in that day! But sadly, it was not, and he needed to get permission from his higher-ups. So he quickly ran off the floor where the car models were and into his office. After opening up his desktop computer, Mariano began typing up an email.

The Verdict Is In

His goal was to get his bosses to agree to his request to allow the stray dog to stay at the dealership. He waited and waited in anticipation of a response. Until finally, he got a ping in his email inbox. He was nervous to open it, but what he read at him in shock.

The contents written inside the email from the higher-ups were allowing him to do more than anything he could have imagined. Mariano was excited to hear that they were all on board because if they had not been, he would've had to find a new way to give the dog a home.

Taking Action

The bosses at Hyundai told Mariano that they were willing to make the dealership the stray dog's forever home! Meaning he could have a bed, a bowl for food, toys, and whatever else he may need to be comfortable there. They even sent the manager a check to purchase all the necessary items.

Together they build a playpen house for the stray dog - they would do anything for him. The workers all fell in love with the dog, and he also loved them. Throughout the days, Mariano noticed that the puppy was following both him and also other salesmen around. He was almost like their little assistant.

Home, At Last

Slowly but surely, they started making the place a perfect living area for the dog. The higher up's even permitted a camera to be placed in the building so that they could keep an eye on the dog when no one else was working. Everyone was doing as much as they could to help.

But there were still a few things that they needed to get, especially one very crucial thing. They needed to finally give the poor puppy a name. Because, after all, he was now a part of their team! Together the workers all discussed options until they agreed on a very obvious choice.

A New Name

They had all been so moved by the customer's story, they ended up naming him "Tucson Prime." It just seemed right to give their new friend that name. Mariano was so happy things were working out - but before he could get back to work, he needed to make sure his new worker was settled.

He went into his private office and printed out a worker's name tag with the name Tucson. That way, customers who made their way into the store could know that the canine was an honorable member of the Hyundai team. Soon enough, customers heard about Tucson, and they were even more excited than the workers!

Gaining Attention

The Instagram page dedicated to the dealership obviously shared many images of their new dog. They posted various snaps of him fake driving cars, dealing with maintenance, and hanging out with customers. It didn't take long before he gained a following.

Everyone loved him! He quickly became known as the Hyundai mascot. His fans even started to send out gifts, play toys, and more for Tucson to enjoy. Some people even visited the dealership just to meet the dog! And those who actually wanted a car would request for him to join them on the test drive.

A Special Invitation

Things were going well, and somehow they even got better when Tucson received a special invitation. The canine was offered a trip to go and see the Hyundai plants. Mariano couldn't believe it - this was such an honor! Even he himself had never been invited.

Those who were high up in the Hyundai company were eager to finally get to meet the iconic dog. To get him prepared for the big day, the workers at the dealership went out and bought Tuscon a nice dog tie, a new leash, and many other things to make sure he looked presentable.

Pawfessional Consultant

Together, Mariano and Tucson finally made their way to the Hyundai plants, where they got to walk around and take it all in. They both felt like they were famous because every few minutes, a different person would run up to them to greet the adorable canine.

They had all heard so much about the “Pawfessional Consultant” and had been following his Instagram page for so long that they felt like they already knew Tucson. The marketing team had especially taken an interest in the dog because his work had helped many customers make their way to Hyundai.

Making It Big

They adored him so much that they offered Tucson a chance to be the face of Hyundai and wanted him to appear in commercials nationwide! Of course, they said yes, this was an unbelievable chance for him. Mariano was so happy that his furry friend was going to be on the small screen.

Mariano couldn't believe that all of these opportunities were happening because of one small coincidence. His act of kindness of trying to help a stray dog get a home led to something way bigger than him. The situation was something that many other people could likely learn from. All it takes is one person.

Happy Ending

Today, Tucson still resides at the dealership in Brazil. He is well-loved and has everything that a dog could ever wish for: a ton of space to roam around in, and many new faces each day that he gets to play with. It's a pawfect position for the canine.

And for those who are interested in seeing what Tucson is up to each day, the Instagram page @Tucson_prime is constantly posting updates from the dog's point of view! Most recently, he was seen getting styled by some of his friends so he could look snazzy cruising down the road in a Hyundai...