“I Haven’t Got a ‘Hi’… Because I’m Ugly” — A Stray Dog’s Silent Cry for Love

He doesn’t bark loudly for attention. He doesn’t wag his tail with hope anymore. This stray dog, with matted fur, a crooked tail, and eyes that once sparkled, now walks the streets like a ghost. Not because he wants to be invisible… but because the world made him feel that way. Every time someone passes, he lifts his head. Just a little. Just enough to say: “Hi?” But the greetings never come.

Children cross the street. Adults look away. Phones come out for prettier dogs, shinier coats, wagging tails full of joy. No one stops for him. No one kneels down to say, “Hey buddy.” No one calls him a good boy. And so, he begins to believe the lie that too many of us have whispered to ourselves: “Maybe I’m not worth loving.”

He wasn’t always like this. Once, he belonged to someone. A name, a bowl, maybe even a bed. But something happened—an eviction, an illness, or just abandonment—and he ended up out here. Alone. With nothing but the memory of warm hands and the sting of being forgotten.

Some people call him “ugly.” They see a scarred face, a broken ear, a limp in his walk. But they don’t see the dog who once curled up on someone’s lap. They don’t see the loyalty still hiding behind those sad eyes. They don’t hear the silent whisper in his heart: “I’m still here. I still want to love.”

He’s not asking for much. Not a mansion. Not designer food. Just a “Hi.” Just a gentle voice. A moment of kindness to say: “You matter. You’re not invisible. You’re not ugly. You’re hurting, but you’re still beautiful to someone who sees with their heart.”

And that someone could be you.

So next time you see a stray with tired eyes and a rough coat, remember: beauty isn’t about perfection. It’s about resilience. It’s about love that keeps living, even when the world turns cold. Say “hi.” Offer a treat. Let them know they are seen. Because one simple greeting could be the first step to rewriting their story.

And every dog—no matter how broken, scarred, or scruffy—deserves that chance.