Two Puppies Found on Remote Colombian Trail Find Forever Homes With Cyclists Who Saved Them
Nicolás Pradilla and his trainer, Héctor Ramírez, were wrapping up a three-day bicycle expedition in Colombia when a spontaneous decision changed their lives. Instead of sticking to the planned route, they veered off onto rugged mountain trails, facing a 25-mile uphill climb.
Halfway up the climb, an unexpected sound stopped them.
“Héctor heard some noises that sounded like birds,” Pradilla told The Dodo. “When we looked down, two abandoned puppies were there.”
Beneath the dense brush were two tiny, dirt-covered puppies, frightened and alone. Without hesitation, the cyclists decided to rescue them, even though they still had over six hours of difficult riding ahead.
“We decided to take them with us immediately,” Pradilla said. “Héctor put one under his shirt first, then handed me the other.”
With the puppies tucked safely against their chests, the men finished the challenging ride, forming a bond with their tiny companions along the way. Originally, they had planned to find new homes for the dogs, but after carrying them for hours, letting them go no longer felt possible.
Héctor kept the puppy he’d carried and named him Remi, while Pradilla adopted his pup and named him Tinto, after Colombia’s beloved black coffee.
The puppies settled quickly into their new homes, transforming their rescuers’ lives as well. For Pradilla, adopting Tinto even inspired a major life change — he moved out of his parents’ crowded home so the two could live together comfortably.
“The whole process of looking for a home has been quite wonderful for me, too,” Pradilla said. “Not only did he find a home, but I did, too.”
Months later, both pups are thriving. Though Tinto needed time to recover from deworming treatments, he’s now on the mend and ready to join his dad on future biking adventures.
“We’re already planning a ride to re-live those moments,” Pradilla said.
From a hidden corner of a Colombian mountainside to loving homes, Remi and Tinto’s story is a perfect reminder that sometimes the best adventures are the ones you don’t plan.