It’s often said that dogs make friends for life, and that can certainly be said for Ritchie the Great Pyrenees, who never forgets people he meets—especially not those who give him treats.
In February 2020, dog owner Laura Santos, 32, went for lunch at a restaurant in California, and she took Ritchie along with her too. She couldn’t have imagined the lasting impact it would have on her pup, who instantly formed a bond with Adriano, a member of staff.
At the time, Adriano asked if he could feed Ritchie a cheese bread, and how could Santos say no? Indeed, she told Newsweek that he “knows that word very well,” so Ritchie’s ears instantly perked up.
The restaurant worker went on to feed Ritchie another cheese bread, and then another. Before they knew it, Ritchie had eaten five and was incredibly happy with the service.
As it turns out, Ritchie hasn’t forgotten that moment and still loves returning to his favorite restaurant.
Santos said: “In July 2022, we went back, and as soon as we got out the car, Ritchie automatically walked in the direction of the entrance and to look for Adriano. He greeted Ritchie by calling him his big friend and gave him as many cheese breads he wanted.
“The sweetest thing is that Ritchie stares at him the whole time. And Adriano keeps updating Ritchie on the status of his cheese bread by telling him it’s coming, or that it’s still cooling,” she continued.
Thankfully for Ritchie, that wasn’t the only time he returned to the Brazilian restaurant in Torrance, California.
In fact, Santos explained that the Great Pyrenees suffered a health scare in September 2024 when she “almost lost” him. A cyst burst in his leg, and he had a general infection, leading to a difficult recovery.
But once Ritchie was finally well enough, there was only one place Santos wanted to take him.
“That was the first place we took Ritchie after his recovery so Adriano could see his big friend. He cried and said he was suffering with Ritchie, that he knew he’d make it, and he needs his big friend,” Santos continued.
Of course, he wasn’t going to let Ritchie leave empty pawed, so he offered the dog some cheese bread and even gave him a bag of them to take home.
The adorable friendship between Ritchie and Adriano is a delight to behold. Although Santos believes it may have skewed her dog’s understanding somewhat, because now he appears to think he “must come back” to anyone who gives him food.
He has even started scouring for stores during his walks to see if there’s any chance of more treats.
Santos shared an adorable video of Ritchie visiting Adriano on his dedication Instagram account (@ritchiethepyr). The clip shows the dog making a bee line for his favorite worker and receiving plenty of fuss.
The clip of the “forever friends” melted hearts with over 9.5 million views and 742,000 likes in July 2024. It has since been reposted and gone viral once again, as internet users can’t cope with their undeniable bond.
It isn’t just at local restaurants where Ritchie is popular, as social media is obsessed with him too. Santos regularly shares videos of Ritchie’s antics online, and she loves seeing the positive responses they generate.
With over 2,000 comments on the Instagram video, many people hailed the lasting friendship Ritchie made.
One comment reads: “They appreciate kindness every time, and remember forever!”
Another Instagram user wrote: “That dog will love that owner forever.”
While another person joked: “This is his restaurant now.”
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