For years Juan Diego Sebastian lived in peace with his dog Cheeto on the streets in Arcadia, Florida. He never bothered anyone, much less hurt someone, according to those who knew him.
But in early December someone beat him while he slept on a park bench.
“He never regained consciousness,” Tammy Ramos, a friend of 10 years, told WINK News.
Passersby got used to seeing Sebastian and Cheeto together.
Even though Sebastian was in bad shape, Ramos was convinced he knew what happening around him.
“I kind of thought he was there because I would talk to him and he would squeeze my hand and his blood pressure would shoot up,” Ramos said.
Eventually Cheeto was allowed to visit his owner in hospice. At that point, Sebastian was “pretty bad” and it was clear that the end was very near.
“And we put Juan’s hand on Cheeto and then Cheeto laid his head on his hand and it was the weirdest thing because tears started coming out of Juan’s eyes.”
He knew.
While those who knew Sebastian mourn his death, the police continue to search for his murderer. As for Cheeto, a woman who didn’t want to be identified adopted the dog so he could remain in the neighborhood.
This heartfelt story makes me teary-eyed.
Share this if you’re glad Cheeto got to say goodbye to his owner.
