Meet ‘Corporal Oliveira,’ the police dog turned internet sensation
October 18, A rescue dog turned police mascot has become one of Brazil’s most beloved furry internet phenomena.
Dubbed “Corporal Oliveira,” the pup was taken in by Cristiano Oliveira, a Rio police officer, who found him in 2019 near his police station abandoned, injured, and hungry.
The dog – decked out in a police uniform with a toy gun strapped in and sunglasses – has become the official mascot of the Rio de Janeiro Military Police’s 17th batallion, patrolling alongside his officer and running beside motorbikes.
Oliveira said, “I took a coat, a police shirt, and put it on him as a joke. I took a picture and sent it to our station’s roster groups and posted them there.” “And then the joke started going viral.”
Now, the furry corporal has an Instagram account with more than 117,000 followers.
“If I don’t post a picture for three days people are already demanding ‘Where is Oliveira?’ ‘Where did Oliveira go?’” said the officer, laughing.