'Patinhas do Destino': dogs and cats star in Brazil's first pet soap opera inspired by the world of soap operas

The telenovela is part of a campaign to raise awareness about responsible pet adoption. Filmed in São Paulo, the initiative pays homage to TV Globo 's 60th anniversary and plays on the world of soap operas to promote pet care and convey the message that "every pet deserves a happy ending."

Behind-the-scenes footage shows the filming routine, with treats and affection being offered to the actors. The pets were trained and filmed with the support of a production company specializing in wildlife documentaries (watch above).

According to the project manager of the agency responsible for the soap opera, Leticia Lima, the recordings took place on July 22nd and 23rd, with sets, costumes and art direction inspired by classic soap operas such as Senhora do Destino, Páginas da Vida and Avenida Brasil.

"Everything was done in two days, respecting the animals' schedules and well-being. Having a production company specializing in documentaries with wild animals made the recordings more fluid, without stressing or tiring the pets," he explains.

The biggest challenge, according to her, was to balance a script that conveys emotion, drama, and humor, while also relating to the extent to which pets can act. To achieve this, actors, both dogs and cats, were hired for the roles.

"Dogs are trained and cats, even though they are more complicated in following commands, are pets that the owner trains to get closer to a command when recording," he said.

The plot features four main characters: two dogs and two cats. The protagonist is Caramel, a dog who finds affection and comfort in a new temporary home. But he soon faces resistance from Dr. Meow, the house cat, who is unwilling to share his space.

The soap opera's trailer will be released the week of August 11th, and the episodes will be published on the social media of World Veterinária, a client of the Santa Catarina agency responsible for the project.