A Dog Who Saved a Life: The True Story of Massi and Mino’s New Beginning
When you scroll through TikTok or Instagram, you have probably seen videos of a heavily tattooed man named Massimiliano “Massi” Simari and his enormous American Bully, Mino. Their videos are a symbol of the pure love between a human and an animal, so much so that Massi even created the “MINO’S CARE” dog care brand, born from this very love.
But behind the smiles and success we see lies an incredible story of falling and rising again, one much deeper than we could ever imagine.
A Dark Past
Massi does not hide his past. He grew up in poverty in Pavia, Italy, in a family with 7 siblings. At 16, he went seriously down the wrong path, committing drug-related offenses that led him to 8 months in a juvenile prison.
His life seemed like it was over. After that, he had to spend the next 8 years in a rehabilitation center (community) to reform himself and learn to live as a new person. It was a long struggle to escape the past.
Mino: The Start of a New Life
But his “victory” began when he was ready for a new life and decided to adopt Mino.
Mino is not just a pet; he is a symbol of a new beginning. Mino gave Massi what he had lost: “unconditional love” (amore incondizionato). Mino didn’t care about his past, didn’t care about his mistakes.
“Mino saved me,” is what Massi always says. Mino gave him “responsibility” and a reason to wake up every day and become a better person.
Two Voices of Life: The Book “Mino cane fortunato”
This wonderful story is beautifully compiled in his book titled “Mino cane fortunato” (Mino the lucky dog).
