Desa knew he wasn’t a showstopper. He’d seen his reflection in shop windows, a slightly lopsided image staring back. His fur was a patchwork of browns and blacks, not a sleek, uniform coat like the other dogs at the park. One ear stood perked and alert, while the other drooped endearingly, giving him a perpetually inquisitive look. He’d noticed the quick glances, the averted eyes, the subtle shift in body language as people walked past. He knew he wasn’t the first dog people gravitated towards.
He’d watch the other dogs, their tails wagging furiously as they received admiring glances and gentle pats. They’d bound and play, drawing laughter and coos from the humans around them. Desa would sit on the sidelines, his tail giving a tentative thump against the ground, a quiet longing in his eyes. He longed to join in the fun, to feel the joy of a good chase, but a small voice in his head always held him back.
He’d overheard whispers too, hushed comments about his “unusual” appearance. He didn’t understand what was so unusual about him. He was just Desa, a dog with a big heart and a gentle soul. He couldn’t change the way he looked. He hadn’t chosen to be born with mismatched ears and a patchwork coat.
But he could choose how he lived his life. He could choose to be happy, to be friendly, to be loving. He could choose to greet every human interaction with a hopeful wag of his tail and a gentle nudge of his nose. He could choose to show the world that true beauty wasn’t about outward appearances, but about the kindness and love that shone from within.
Today felt different, though. There was a festive air at the shelter, a buzz of excitement that hadn’t been there before. He’d seen other dogs receive extra attention on days like this – a new toy, an extra treat, perhaps even a longer walk. He didn’t understand the human concept of birthdays, but he sensed it was something special.
He sat patiently by the front of his kennel, his one perked ear twitching, his tail giving a small, hopeful wag whenever someone walked by. He didn’t bark or beg. He simply sat there, his eyes filled with a quiet plea.
He thought, Today feels different…maybe it’s my birthday. I know I’m not as beautiful as the other dogs, but…I still hope that someone will think of me. I still hope that someone will send me good wishes.
He didn’t need a big party or fancy presents. He didn’t need to be chosen for adoption, not today, maybe not ever. He just wanted a small gesture, a kind word, a gentle touch. He hoped that on this day, his birthday, people could look past his patchwork coat and his mismatched ears and see the loving heart that beat within him. He hoped that even a dog like him, a dog who wasn’t considered conventionally beautiful, deserved a little bit of birthday love, a little bit of kindness, a little bit of recognition. He just wanted to be seen, to be acknowledged, to be wished well, just like any other dog.
