The Ones Who Never Make News

I’ve known this street dog since 2011. For over a decade, I fed him regularly, until 2022, when he suddenly disappeared. I never stopped wondering what had happened to him. Then last night, by sheer chance, I passed the street he once called home, and there he was. I called his name. He recognised me instantly. 

His tail wagged, he circled me, licked my hands, and stayed by my side for ten whole minutes, pouring out affection as if no time had passed. My heart swelled and shattered. 

He’s a shadow of the dog he once was: painfully thin, bones jutting out, his body worn. I sat with him for an hour, stroking his tired frame, whispering to him gently. There was love in his eyes. Recognition. Loyalty that hadn’t dimmed, even after years apart.

My heart is full. And unbearably heavy. 

Dogs shouldn’t have to grow old on the streets or suffer in silence. If I had the means, I’d build a sanctuary, a place where every dog is safe, warm, and cherished. I’d spend my days feeding them, playing with them, wrapping them in care.

No dog should ever know hunger, fear, or loneliness. They deserve only love, for all the love they give.

People often ask, “What about the dogs that chase or bite?” Funny how we rarely talk about the quiet ones, who sit by gates, guard homes, comfort strangers, or simply exist peacefully while we humans go about creating chaos.

It’s true: you don’t have to befriend every dog. But fear doesn’t justify cruelty. Most street dogs bark or chase out of fear, not aggression. A little understanding, a bit of patience, and slowing down; that’s all it takes. After all, the streets are their home too.

It’s hard to explain this to someone who’s never known a dog’s love. Yes, dog attacks make the news. Fear sells. But love rarely does. Nobody talks about the countless dogs who offer silent companionship, ease our loneliness, keep vigil through the night, just by being there.

They don’t make headlines. They don’t trend. But they exist, on every street corner, doing what humans so often forget: giving love, expecting nothing in return. Maybe one day, sanity will prevail. Maybe one day, kindness will outweigh fear.

Until then, we owe them our compassion. At the very least, we owe them that.

(I couldn’t bring myself to take his photo; just didn’t have the heart. The above image, generated by Grok, is a close reminder of how he looked a decade ago.)