It’s a quiet Sunday morning in Antioquia, Colombia, and Doña Graciela is making her weekly grocery list. She only needs a few items from the nearby market, but getting there herself isn’t easy anymore. Thankfully, she has a devoted helper who’s more than happy to take over — her dog.
After carefully strapping a small saddlebag harness onto her black pit bull mix, Doña Graciela slips her handwritten list and some cash into the pocket.
“I write down what I need and put the money here,” she explained in a video shared by Instagram user @cejasriveraa. “Then he goes to the store and brings everything back.”
With his backpack secured and his mission clear, the pup trots out the front door and down the village street, tail wagging with purpose. He knows exactly where he’s going — and even if he hesitates, the shopkeepers always recognize him and welcome him inside.
When he arrives, the dog sits politely at the counter, allowing the workers to open his backpack and retrieve the list.
“There he is — he’s arrived at the store,” Cejasriveraa narrates. “Now they’re helping him. How beautiful.”
The shopkeepers step away to gather the groceries, leaving the dog waiting calmly in place. He doesn’t move an inch.
“Look how patiently he waits,” Cejasriveraa says.
A moment later, the workers return with a small bag of items, secure it to his harness, take the money from his backpack — and send him on his way home.
The loyal pup happily heads back down the street, eager to deliver his haul. Seconds later, he trots back into Doña Graciela’s home, grinning proudly as she unties the groceries. For his efforts, he’s rewarded with praise — and a well-earned treat.
Growing older comes with challenges, but Doña Graciela never faces them alone. With her faithful dog by her side, she always has someone dependable to help her get things done.
“He even brought back the change,” she said with a smile.
