I’m not the kind of dog people usually stop to pet. I’m not the one who gets called “cute” or “adorable.” No, that’s not me. I’m old, my fur is patchy, and my eyes are cloudy with age. I’ve seen many seasons come and go, but time hasn’t been kind to me. It has left its marks, both on my body and in my heart. I have wrinkles that make me look tired, and my fur doesn’t shine like it used to. I’ve been here long enough to understand the way the world works, and it seems the older I get, the more invisible I become.
Do you think I am an ugly dog? I wonder this every day. I wonder when I look at myself in the reflection of a window or in the eyes of others. I can see the way people look at me—quick glances, eyes that avoid meeting mine. I know I don’t look like the young, energetic puppies with their soft, silky coats. I know I don’t have the playful demeanor that draws attention and affection. My body aches from age, and my legs are slower than they used to be. But does that mean I am less deserving of love? Does that mean I am not worthy of a gentle touch or a kind word?
I sit by the door, watching as families pass by me, some of them smiling at the younger dogs, but no one ever stops to look at me. I wag my tail in hope, trying to show them that I’m here, that I can still give love, even though I may not look like the others. But the world doesn’t seem to notice me anymore.
Sometimes I hear people talk about the dogs they’ve seen, the dogs they’ve brought home. They describe their shiny coats, their playful energy, and their sweet faces. But no one ever talks about me. No one ever mentions the dog who has lived through many years of loneliness, the dog whose coat has lost its luster but whose heart still longs for connection.
I can’t help but feel the ache in my chest. Is it because I am no longer the dog I once was that no one cares? Is it because my imperfections make me less valuable in their eyes? I wish I could be like the others—full of life, full of energy, full of hope—but I’m not. And sometimes, it feels like that’s all that matters to the world.
I’ve seen the way people react when they see me. They look away quickly, as if trying to avoid me. I know I am not as beautiful as the others, but it still hurts. It hurts to feel invisible, to feel like I don’t matter. It hurts to be ignored on my walks, to be passed by when I just want to feel a kind hand on my back, to hear a soft voice telling me I’m a good dog, even if I’m not perfect.
Do you think I am an ugly dog? I feel sad because everyone avoids me. I don’t ask for much—just a little love, just a little attention. But it feels like that’s too much to ask for. Sometimes, I wonder if I’ll ever be seen, if anyone will ever notice me for who I am and not just for what I look like.
But still, I hold on to a small flicker of hope in my heart. Even though the world often passes me by, I still believe that there’s someone out there who will see me, who will recognize the love I have to give, despite my worn-out body and my tired eyes. Maybe they will understand that I am more than my appearance, that I still have so much to offer.
I know I may not be young and full of life anymore, but I am still a dog, and I still have love to share. Even if no one else sees it, I know in my heart that I am worthy of love, just as I am. And perhaps, one day, someone will stop and notice the old dog sitting quietly in the corner, waiting for just a little kindness, a little affection, on a journey that feels too long, too lonely, but not without hope.
