Most tourist destinations are buzzing with local guides wanting to share their hometown’s beauty with visitors. But in picturesque Sevilla, Colombia, the village’s most sought-after rep isn’t a human — he’s a dog named Mono.
Mono, Sevilla’s beloved four-legged mascot, has lived in the village all his life. And although he has the option to hang out inside his family’s cozy home, he prefers to spend his time in the village center, where all the action is.
At first, Mono blended in with the other dogs in his pet-loving community. But unlike the other pups who frequented Sevilla’s central park, Mono refused to miss out on any events where he could meet new people.
He soon became a staple in the community, capturing the hearts of tourists and locals alike.
“Some loves cannot be explained in words; they are felt,” Alcaldía De Sevilla Valle wrote on Facebook. “Like the one Sevilla has for Mono. A puppy who doesn’t speak but says so much with his presence. Who asks for nothing but has known how to earn everything: the respect, affection and the heart of a whole people.”
No matter what events were taking place that day, Mono always found himself in the middle of it all. From volunteering as a therapy dog for his local hospital’s vaccination clinic to leading the town’s ecological hike, Mono refuses to miss out on the fun.
And his community can’t get enough of him.
“[He’s] a loyal friend who has walked our streets, joined our parties and shared our story,” Alcaldía De Sevilla Valle wrote on Facebook.
After participating in numerous community events, Mono’s loving neighbors decided to surprise him with a celebration of his own. They organized an event to honor Mono’s presence in the community and began crafting a special monument for the little guy.
Then, they sent out invitations to all the locals and tourists they could find.
“It will be an unforgettable tribute to celebrate his nobility, his history and the affection we have for him in Seville,” Alcaldía De Sevilla Valle wrote on Facebook.