A homeless dog stopped in front of the door, head lowered and hunger weighing on him.
Gerardo Ortiz, owner of the Ajilalo restaurant in Peru, did not chase him away. He served him a hot plate made just for him. That was almost ten years ago, and he has not stopped since.
The news spread among the neighborhood strays like the smell of food does. Now several arrive every night, some already familiar, others new, approaching shyly to check whether the rumor is true. It always is. Far from being annoyed, the human customers also began bringing their own offering of affection and food.
“To me, they are the best customers”, says Gerardo, who learned from his mother not to distinguish between helping a person and helping an animal. “They don’t pay us with money, but they pay us with their joy and by wagging their tails.”
