In the bustling metropolis of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a quintet of infant opossums found themselves in a dire predicament following the tragic demise of their mother, a victim of a canine assault.

Stephanie Maldonado, a canine behavior specialist, stumbled upon these diminutive marsupials in their hour of need. Despite her valiant efforts, the prospects for these four nascent joeys, still blind to the world around them, were grim.

In an unforeseen twist of fate, Pretinha, Maldonado’s loyal canine companion, emerged as an unlikely savior. Embracing the role of a surrogate, she tenderly nurtured the joeys, imparting the strength they desperately needed. Before long, these tiny creatures were sufficiently robust to clamber upon Pretinha’s back, enjoying jubilant excursions akin to piggy-back jaunts.

Maldonado, sharing her awe on Facebook, observed, “Witnessing the meticulous attention she lavishes upon them – a constant barrage of affectionate licks and cozy cuddling – is truly heartwarming.”

Maldonado harbors aspirations of eventually reintroducing these joeys to their natural habitat once they reach a suitable age.